Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 2C3 (EIF2C3)

EIF2C3 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. The International Radiation Hybrid Mapping Consortium mapped the AGO3 gene to chromosome 1. AGO3 gene resides in tandem with the AGO1 (EIF2C1) and AGO4  genes on chromosome 1p35-p34. The orthologous genes in mouse are in the same orientation on chromosome 4.