ZIP — Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Summary

BoZIP (ZIP, AGO7) on cauliflower chromosome 2 encodes an Argonaute-family protein with Piwi, PAZ and RNase H-like domains and RNA endonuclease activity. It is associated with RNA binding, gene silencing by miRNA and ta-siRNA, posttranscriptional gene silencing, antiviral response, and temporal regulation of development including vegetative phase change and maintenance of shoot apical meristem identity. The gene is linked to female and male meiotic nuclear division, micro- and megagametogenesis, and stem cell population maintenance. Associations with root length and drought tolerance have been noted. Related genes in other species are linked to leaf morphology, leaf polarity, developmental timing, auxin signalling, TAS3 ta-siRNA biogenesis, and antiviral resistance. The protein localises to the nucleus, nucleolus, and cytoplasm.