AGO1 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU04730, also known as AGO1 or qde-2 in Neurospora crassa on chromosome 6, encodes an Argonaute-family protein with Piwi, PAZ, and RNase H-like domains and exhibits endoribonuclease activity that cleaves siRNA-paired mRNA, producing 5'-phosphomonoesters, along with siRNA binding and RNA binding. The gene is associated with siRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing, RNA interference, defense and immune responses, and chromatin silencing at centromeres, telomeres, and mating-type regions. It localizes to the RITS and ARC complexes, heterochromatin, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Associations extend to maintenance of G0 phase, meiosis, mating, and regulation of gene expression. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to panicle number and interactions with fungal pathogens such as Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum.