Plays a central role in integrating RNA silencing and chromatin signals in 21 nt siRNA-dependent DNA methylation on cytosine pathway leading to transcriptional gene silencing of specific sequences. Involved in a chromatin-based RNA silencing pathway that encompasses both post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) (e.g. RDR1, RDR6 and AGO2) and transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) (e.g. siRNA-dependent DNA methylation and histone H3) components. Mediates siRNA accumulation at specific chromatin loci. Binds H3K4me0 through its PHD to enforce low levels of H3K4 methylation and gene silencing at a subset of genomic loci. Interacts with unmethylated histone H3 and AGO2. The interaction with AGO2 in required to direct DNA methylation and silencing. Expressed in seedlings, mostly in the vasculature and shoot apices of young seedlings. The PHD-type zinc finger (599-665) binds to unmethylated histone H3 'Lys-4' (H3K4me0). Silencing-deficiency characterized by a lower siRNA accumulation and a transcriptional up-regulation of specific loci that correlates with a local loss of cytosine methylation on DNA and an increased methylation of histone H3 'Lys-4' (e.g. H3K4me2, H3K4me3) and 'Lys-36' (e.g. H3K36me3). Was originally thought to correspond to three different genes At2g16470, At2g16480 and At2g16485. Was originally thought to correspond to three different genes At2g16470, At2g16480 and At2g16485. Was originally thought to correspond to three different genes At2g16470, At2g16480 and At2g16485.