AGO1 — Verticillium dahliae

Summary

VDAG_01530, symbol AGO1 (also known as VdAGO1 or VdQDE-2) in Verticillium dahliae, encodes a protein with endoribonuclease activity that cleaves siRNA-paired mRNA, producing 5'-phosphomonoesters, and binds siRNA and single-stranded RNA. It belongs to the Argonaute/Piwi family, containing Piwi, PAZ, and RNaseH-like domains. The gene is associated with RNA interference-mediated gene silencing, including siRNA and priRNA processing, heterochromatin assembly at centromeres, and maintenance of the G0 phase. It is linked to vegetative phase change, interaction with the host, and nuclear export. The protein localizes to the RITS and ARC complexes, heterochromatin (including centromeric, subtelomeric, and mating-type regions), the cytoplasm, and the nucleus. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to panicle number, though this is not established for V. dahliae.