AUTHOR=Bollmann Stephanie R. , Press Caroline M. , Tyler Brett M. , Grünwald Niklaus J. 

TITLE=Expansion and Divergence of Argonaute Genes in the Oomycete Genus Phytophthora

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02841

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.02841

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Modulation of gene expression through RNA interference is well conserved in eukaryotes and is involved in many cellular processes. In the oomycete <italic>Phytophthora</italic>, research on the small RNA machinery and function has started to reveal potential roles in the pathogen, but much is still unknown. We examined Argonaute (AGO) homologs within oomycete genome sequences, especially among <italic>Phytophthora</italic> species, to gain a clearer understanding of the evolution of this well-conserved protein family. We identified AGO homologs across many representative oomycete and stramenopile species, and annotated representative homologs in <italic>P. sojae</italic>. Furthermore, we demonstrate variable transcript levels of all identified <italic>AGO</italic> homologs in comparison to previously identified Dicer-like (DCL) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) homologs. Our phylogenetic analysis further refines the relationship of the AGO homologs in oomycetes and identifies a conserved tandem duplication of <italic>AGO</italic> homologs in a subset of <italic>Phytophthora</italic> species.</p>