ZIP — Brassica napus

Summary

BnZIP (ZIP, AGO7) on chromosome C06 of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) encodes an Argonaute-family protein containing Piwi, PAZ and RNaseH-like domains, with RNA endonuclease activity and RNA binding. The gene is associated with gene silencing by miRNA, posttranscriptional gene silencing, ta-siRNA and lsiRNA processing, and vegetative phase change. It is associated with developmental timing, juvenile-to-adult transition, leaf morphology and polarity, auxin signalling, antiviral resistance, and maintenance of shoot apical meristem identity. The product localises to the nucleus, nucleolus and cytoplasm. Related genes in other species are linked to TAS3 ta-siRNA biogenesis, miR390 binding, and regulation of leaf shape and developmental timing.