DCL4 — Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Summary

BoDCL4 (BOLND125_C09P059680.1) on cauliflower chromosome 9 encodes a Dicer-like 4 protein with RNase III, PAZ, dsRBD, and DEAD/DEAH-box helicase domains, conferring ribonuclease III, helicase, dsRNA-binding, and ATP-binding activities. The gene is associated with long and trans-acting siRNA processing, miRNA processing, post-transcriptional gene silencing, antiviral immunity, and RNA interference. It is linked to vegetative phase change, shoot apical meristem identity maintenance, adaxial/abaxial axis polarity, fruit and cotyledon development, cellulose microfibril organization, and sugar-mediated signaling. Associations also include leaf morphology, root meristem development, osmotic and low-temperature stress responses, anthocyanin accumulation, flavonoid biosynthesis, viral disease response, and resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The protein localizes to the nucleus, cytosol, nuclear speck, and Cul4-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complex.