This gene encodes a member of the Argonaute family of proteins which play a role in RNA interference. The encoded protein is highly basic, contains a PAZ domain and a PIWI domain, and may play a role in short-interfering-RNA-mediated gene silencing. This gene is located on chromosome 1 in a tandem cluster of closely related family members including argonaute 4 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2C, 1. Two transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
Azuma-Mukai, Oguri, Mituyama, Qian, Asai, Siomi, Siomi: "Characterization of endogenous human Argonautes and their miRNA partners in RNA silencing." in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 105, Issue 23, pp. 7964-9, (2008) (PubMed).
Sasaki, Shiohama, Minoshima, Shimizu: "Identification of eight members of the Argonaute family in the human genome." in: Genomics, Vol. 82, Issue 3, pp. 323-30, (2003) (PubMed).