Required for RNA-mediated gene silencing (RNAi) by the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). The 'minimal RISC' appears to include AGO2 bound to a short guide RNA such as a microRNA (miRNA) or short interfering RNA (siRNA). These guide RNAs direct RISC to complementary mRNAs that are targets for RISC-mediated gene silencing. The precise mechanism of gene silencing depends on the degree of complementarity between the miRNA or siRNA and its target. Binding of RISC to a perfectly complementary mRNA generally results in silencing due to endonucleolytic cleavage of the mRNA specifically by AGO2. Binding of RISC to a partially complementary mRNA results in silencing through inhibition of translation, and this is independent of endonuclease activity. May inhibit translation initiation by binding to the 7-methylguanosine cap, thereby preventing the recruitment of the translation initiation factor eIF4-E. May also inhibit translation initiation via interaction with EIF6, which itself binds to the 60S ribosomal subunit and prevents its association with the 40S ribosomal subunit. The inhibition of translational initiation leads to the accumulation of the affected mRNA in cytoplasmic processing bodies (P-bodies), where mRNA degradation may subsequently occur. In some cases RISC-mediated translational repression is also observed for miRNAs that perfectly match the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR). Can also up-regulate the translation of specific mRNAs under certain growth conditions. Binds to the AU element of the 3'-UTR of the TNF (TNF-alpha) mRNA and up-regulates translation under conditions of serum starvation. Also required for transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), in which short RNAs known as antigene RNAs or agRNAs direct the transcriptional repression of complementary promoter regions. Regulates lymphoid and erythroid development and function, and this is independent of endonuclease activity. endonucleolytic cleavage to 5'-phosphomonoester. Interacts with DICER1 through its Piwi domain and with TARBP2 during assembly of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Together, DICER1, AGO2 and TARBP2 constitute the trimeric RISC loading complex (RLC), or micro-RNA (miRNA) loading complex (miRLC). Within the RLC/miRLC, DICER1 and TARBP2 are required to process precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) to mature miRNAs and then load them onto AGO2. AGO2 bound to the mature miRNA constitutes the minimal RISC and may subsequently dissociate from DICER1 and TARBP2. Note however that the term RISC has also been used to describe the trimeric RLC/miRLC. The formation of RISC complexes containing siRNAs rather than miRNAs appears to occur independently of DICER1 (PubMed:16357216). Interacts with AGO1. Also interacts with DDB1, DDX5, DDX6, DDX20, DHX30, DHX36, DDX47, DHX9, ELAVL, FXR1, GEMIN4, HNRNPF, IGF2BP1, ILF3, IMP8, MATR3, PABPC1, PRMT5, P4HA1, P4HB, RBM4, SART3, TNRC6A, TNRC6B, UPF1 and YBX1. Interacts with the P-body components DCP1A and XRN1. Associates with polysomes and messenger ribonucleoproteins (mNRPs). Interacts with RBM4; the interaction is modulated under stress-induced conditions, occurs under both cell proliferation and differentiation conditions and in an RNA- and phosphorylation-independent manner. Interacts with LIMD1, WTIP and AJUBA (By similarity). Interacts with TRIM71 (PubMed:19898466, PubMed:22508726, PubMed:22735451). Interacts with APOBEC3G in an RNA-dependent manner. Interacts with APOBEC3A, APOBEC3C, APOBEC3F and APOBEC3H. Interacts with DICER1, TARBP2, EIF6, MOV10 and RPL7A (60S ribosome subunit); they form a large RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Interacts with FMR1. Interacts with ZFP36 (By similarity). Interacts with RC3H1; the interaction is RNA independent (PubMed:25697406). Interacts with FAM172A (PubMed:29311329). Found in a complex composed of AGO2, CHD7 and FAM172A (PubMed:29311329). Interacts with SND1 and SYT11 (PubMed:24882364). Interacts with CLNK (PubMed:26009488). Interacts with GARRE1 (By similarity). Translational repression of mRNAs results in their recruitment to P-bodies. Translocation to the nucleus requires IMP8. Ubiquitous expression in 9.5 day embryos with highest levels in forebrain, heart, limb buds, and branchial arches. The Piwi domain may perform RNA cleavage by a mechanism similar to that of RNase H. However, while RNase H utilizes a triad of Asp-Asp-Glu (DDE) for metal ion coordination, this protein appears to utilize a triad of Asp-Asp-His (DDH). Hydroxylated. 4-hydroxylation appears to enhance protein stability but is not required for miRNA-binding or endonuclease activity. Ubiquitinated on surface-exposed lysines by a SCF-like E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex containing ZSWIM8 during target-directed microRNA degradation (TDMD), a process that mediates degradation of microRNAs (miRNAs). Ubiquitination by the SCF-like E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex containing ZSWIM8 leads to its subsequent degradation, thereby exposing miRNAs for degradation. ZSWIM8 recognizes and binds AGO2 when it is engaged with a TDMD target. Phosphorylation at Ser-388 by AKT3; leads to up-regulate translational repression of microRNA target and down-regulate endonucleolytic cleavage. A phosphorylation cycle of C-terminal serine cluster (Ser-825-Ser-835) regulates the release of target mRNAs. Target-binding leads to phosphorylation of these residues by CSNK1A1, which reduces the affinity of AGO2 for mRNA and enables target release. The ANKRD52-PPP6C phosphatase complex dephosphorylates the residues, which primes AGO2 for binding a new target. Embryonic death with a strong defect in neural tube closure and apparent cardiac failure. Belongs to the argonaute family. Ago subfamily. Extended N-terminus.