MYCGR3G38035 — Zymoseptoria tritici

Summary

MYCGR3G38035 (symbol ago1) on Zymoseptoria tritici chromosome 3 encodes an Argonaute-family protein containing Piwi, PAZ and RNaseH-like domains. The product possesses endoribonuclease activity that cleaves siRNA-paired mRNA, siRNA binding, and ssRNA binding. In this fungal pathogen, ago1 is associated with RNA interference pathways including siRNA and priRNA 3'-end processing, RNA-dependent gene silencing, and RNAi-mediated heterochromatin assembly at centromeres. It is linked to maintenance of G0 phase, chromosome division, and silencing of telomeric, subtelomeric, mating-type region, and centric heterochromatin. The protein localises to the RITS and ARC complexes, heterochromatin islands, and the cytoplasm, cytosol, and nucleus. Related genes in other species link the family to RNAi-like chromatin silencing.