DCL2 — Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Summary

BoDCL2, the cauliflower DCL2 gene on chromosome 5, encodes a protein with ribonuclease III and helicase activities that also binds RNA, ATP, metals and other proteins. It contains DEAD/DEAH-box helicase and RLR_Helicase domains. The gene is associated with small RNA processing pathways including siRNA, ta-siRNA and miRNA processing, as well as hypermethylation of CpG islands and post-transcriptional gene silencing. BoDCL2 is associated with antiviral defense and virus resistance, systemic RNA interference, phloem transport, transgenerational stress memory, root microbiota composition, ABA sensitivity, and reproductive structure development. It localises to both the cytoplasm and nucleus and is linked to maintenance of shoot apical meristem identity and polarity specification of the adaxial/abaxial axis. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to egg cell development, systemic antiviral silencing, transgenerational insect resistance and flowering time.