ZIP — Phaseolus vulgaris

Summary

PHAVU_003G046700, designated PvZIP (also known as PvAGO7), encodes an Argonaute-family protein on chromosome 3 of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The product possesses RNA endonuclease activity and RNA binding, and contains Piwi, PAZ, and RNaseH-like domains characteristic of the Argonaute clade. PvZIP is associated with gene silencing by miRNA and ta-siRNA, posttranscriptional gene silencing, and LsiRNA processing. It is linked to temporal regulation of development, vegetative phase change, maintenance of shoot apical meristem identity, and stem cell population maintenance. The gene is associated with phloem loading, cell wall modification, and both male and female meiotic nuclear divisions. Associations include zinc concentration, leaf morphology and polarity, developmental timing, auxin signaling, and antiviral defense. The protein localizes to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and nucleolus. Related genes in other species link the family to TAS3 tasiRNA biogenesis and miR390 binding.