Plays a role in RNA-mediated gene silencing by both micro-RNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) (PubMed:16289642, PubMed:19167051, PubMed:19304925, PubMed:32354837). Required for miRNA-dependent translational repression and siRNA-dependent endonucleolytic cleavage of complementary mRNAs by argonaute family proteins (PubMed:16289642, PubMed:19167051, PubMed:19304925, PubMed:32354837). As scaffolding protein associates with argonaute proteins bound to partially complementary mRNAs and simultaneously can recruit CCR4-NOT and PAN deadenylase complexes (PubMed:21981923). Interacts with AGO1, AGO2, AGO3 and AGO4 (PubMed:16289642, PubMed:18690212, PubMed:19167051, PubMed:19304925, PubMed:19383768). Interacts with CNOT1; the interaction mediates the association with the CCR4-NOT complex (PubMed:21981923, PubMed:21984185). Interacts with PAN3; the interaction mediates the association with the PAN complex (PubMed:21981923). Interacts with MOV10; the interaction is direct and RNA-dependent (PubMed:24726324). Mammalian P-bodies are also known as GW bodies (GWBs). The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the GW182 family. Extended N-terminus.