AGO4

AGO4 is a member of the Argonaute family of proteins which contain PAZ and PIWI domains and play an integral role in RNA interference and short-interfering-RNA-mediated gene silencing. This gene is located on chromosome 1 in a cluster of related family me

Full Name

Argonaute 4, RISC Catalytic Component

Function

Required for RNA-mediated gene silencing (RNAi). Binds to short RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and represses the translation of mRNAs which are complementary to them. Lacks endonuclease activity and does not appear to cleave target mRNAs. Also required for RNA-directed transcription and replication of the human hapatitis delta virus (HDV).

Biological Process

Intracellular receptor signaling pathway
Male gonad development
Male meiotic nuclear division
miRNA loading onto RISC involved in gene silencing by miRNA
miRNA mediated inhibition of translation
miRNA metabolic process
mRNA catabolic process
Negative regulation of apoptotic process
Negative regulation of gene expression
Positive regulation of gene expression
Post-transcriptional gene silencing by RNA
Pre-miRNA processing
Production of miRNAs involved in gene silencing by miRNA
Regulation of cell morphogenesis
Regulation of megakaryocyte differentiation
Regulation of transcription initiation from RNA polymerase II promoter
RNA secondary structure unwinding
Synaptonemal complex assembly
Wnt signaling pathway, calcium modulating pathway

Cellular Location

P-body

PTM

Ubiquitinated on surface-exposed lysines by a SCF-like E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex containing ZSWIM8 during target-directed microRNA degradation (TDMD), a process that mediates degradation of microRNAs (miRNAs). Ubiquitination by the SCF-like E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex containing ZSWIM8 leads to its subsequent degradation, thereby exposing miRNAs for degradation. ZSWIM8 recognizes and binds AGO4 when it is engaged with a TDMD target.