EIF2C1
Protein argonaute-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the "EIF2C1" gene. Function. This gene encodes a member of the Argonaute family of proteins which play a role in RNA interference. The encoded protein is highly basic, and contains a PAZ domain and a PIWI domain. It may interact with dicer1 and play a role in short-interfering-RNA-mediated gene silencing. This gene is located on chromosome 1 in a cluster of closely related family members including argonaute 3, and argonaute 4. Model organisms. Model organisms have been used in the study of EIF2C1 function. A  conditional knockout mouse line, called "Eif2c1" was generated as part of the International Knockout Mouse Consortium program — a high-throughput mutagenesis project to generate and distribute animal models of disease to interested scientists. Male and female animals underwent a standardized phenotypic screen to determine the effects of deletion. Twenty two tests were carried out on mutant mice and two significant abnormalities were observed: homozygous mutants were subviable and females also had decreased circulating aspartate transaminase levels.