ZIP — Medicago truncatula

Summary

MTR_5G042590 (ZIP, MtZIP, also known as AGO7) encodes an Argonaute-family protein with RNA endonuclease activity and RNA binding, containing Piwi, PAZ and RNaseH-like domains. It is associated with gene silencing by miRNA, posttranscriptional gene silencing, ta-siRNA and lsiRNA processing, and temporal regulation of development including vegetative phase change and juvenile-to-adult transition. The gene has been associated with zinc import and transport, proanthocyanidin anabolism, cell wall thickening, phloem loading, microgametogenesis, megagametogenesis, female meiotic nuclear division, maintenance of shoot apical meristem identity, and antiviral defense. It localises to the nucleus, nucleolus, cytoplasm and NOR. Associations with forage yield, leaf shape, leaf morphology and polarity, auxin signalling, and developmental timing have been noted. Related genes in other species are linked to leaf morphology, drought tolerance, zinc concentration, seed maturation, and auxin sensitivity.