The Arabidopsis F-box protein FBW2 targets AGO1 for degradation to prevent spurious loading of illegitimate small RNA.

ABSTRACT: RNA silencing is a conserved mechanism in eukaryotes involved in development and defense against viruses. In plants, ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1) protein plays a central role in both microRNA- and small interfering RNA-directed silencing, and its expression is regulated at multiple levels. Here, we report that the F-box protein FBW2 assembles an SCF complex that selectively targets for proteolysis AGO1 when it is unloaded and mutated. Although FBW2 loss of function does not lead to strong growth or developmental defects, it significantly increases RNA-silencing activity. Interestingly, under conditions in which small-RNA accumulation is affected, the failure to degrade AGO1 in fbw2 mutants becomes more deleterious for the plant. Accordingly, the non-degradable AGO1 protein assembles high-molecular-we

SUBMITTER: Hacquard T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9035678 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature