AGO1 — Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15

Summary

MoAGO1 (MGG_13617) on chromosome 4 of Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15 encodes an Argonaute-family protein containing Piwi, PAZ, and RNase H-like domains, with endoribonuclease activity that cleaves siRNA-paired mRNA and produces 5′-phosphomonoesters. It binds siRNA, ssRNA, and RNA generally, and is associated with RNA interference-dependent gene silencing, including RNAi-mediated chromatin silencing, heterochromatin assembly at centromeres, telomeric silencing, and silencing of the silent mating-type cassette. The protein localises to the RITS and ARC complexes, heterochromatin islands, subtelomeric and centric heterochromatin, the mating-type region, the cytoplasm, cytosol, and nucleus. It is also associated with maintenance of the G0 phase, chromosome division, and panicle number. Related genes in other species link the family to RNA interference and gene silencing.