PNH — Zea mays

Summary

ZmPNH (ZM00001EB073810) on maize chromosome 2 encodes an Argonaute1c protein, a member of the Argonaute family characterized by Piwi, PAZ, and RNaseH-like domains, and is associated with siRNA and miRNA binding. The gene is linked to miRNA metabolic processes, long siRNA processing, and gene silencing by miRNA-directed mRNA cleavage. It has been associated with drought stress response, leaf polarity and morphology, virus resistance, auxin signaling, and the juvenile-to-adult transition. Associations also include ear weight, inflorescence branching, photosynthetic ability, lignin biosynthesis, root phototropism, and meristem development traits. The protein localizes to the BAT3 complex, D body, thylakoid, and pollen tube. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to shoot apical meristem formation, leaf development, and reproductive growth, as well as antioxidant activity and heat shock response.