该基因编码Argonaute家族的一个成员，在RNA干扰中起作用。编码的蛋白质是高度碱性的，包含PAZ结构域和PIWI结构域，可能在短干扰RNA介导的基因沉默中发挥作用该基因位于1号染色体上，由Argonaute 4和真核翻译起始因子2C，1等家族成员串联而成。已鉴定出两个编码不同亚型的转录变体[由RefSeq提供，2008年7月]
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]