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Hassan MM, Yuan G, Liu Y, Alam M, Eckert CA, Tuskan GA, Golz JF, Yang X. Precision genome editing in plants using gene targeting and prime editing: existing and emerging strategies. Biotechnol J 2022; 17:e2100673. [PMID: 35766313 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Precise modification of plant genomes, such as seamless insertion, deletion, or replacement of DNA sequences at a predefined site, is a challenging task. Gene targeting (GT) and prime editing are currently the best approaches for this purpose. However, these techniques are inefficient in plants, which limits their applications for crop breeding programs. Recently, substantial developments have been made to improve the efficiency of these techniques in plants. Several strategies, such as RNA donor templating, chemically modified donor DNA template, and tandem-repeat homology-directed repair, are aimed at improving GT. Additionally, improved prime editing gRNA design, use of engineered reverse transcriptase enzymes, and splitting prime editing components have improved the efficacy of prime editing in plants. These emerging strategies and existing technologies are reviewed along with various perspectives on their future improvement and the development of robust precision genome editing technologies for plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mahmudul Hassan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Guoliang Yuan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
| | - Mobashwer Alam
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, Nambour, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carrie A Eckert
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
| | - Gerald A Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
| | - John F Golz
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA
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2
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Liu H, Chen W, Li Y, Sun L, Chai Y, Chen H, Nie H, Huang C. CRISPR/Cas9 Technology and Its Utility for Crop Improvement. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:10442. [PMID: 36142353 PMCID: PMC9499353 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid growth of the global population has resulted in a considerable increase in the demand for food crops. However, traditional crop breeding methods will not be able to satisfy the worldwide demand for food in the future. New gene-editing technologies, the most widely used of which is CRISPR/Cas9, may enable the rapid improvement of crop traits. Specifically, CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology involves the use of a guide RNA and a Cas9 protein that can cleave the genome at specific loci. Due to its simplicity and efficiency, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has rapidly become the most widely used tool for editing animal and plant genomes. It is ideal for modifying the traits of many plants, including food crops, and for creating new germplasm materials. In this review, the development of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, the underlying mechanism, and examples of its use for editing genes in important crops are discussed. Furthermore, certain limitations of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and potential solutions are described. This article will provide researchers with important information regarding the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology for crop improvement, plant breeding, and gene functional analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Liu
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Wendan Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Forest Food Processing and Safety, Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yushu Li
- Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Yuhong Chai
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Haixia Chen
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Haochen Nie
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Conglin Huang
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
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3
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Biswas S, Bridgeland A, Irum S, Thomson MJ, Septiningsih EM. Optimization of Prime Editing in Rice, Peanut, Chickpea, and Cowpea Protoplasts by Restoration of GFP Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9809. [PMID: 36077206 PMCID: PMC9456013 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise editing of the plant genome has long been desired for functional genomic research and crop breeding. Prime editing is a newly developed precise editing technology based on CRISPR-Cas9, which uses an engineered reverse transcriptase (RT), a catalytically impaired Cas9 endonuclease (nCas9), and a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA). In addition, prime editing has a wider range of editing types than base editing and can produce nearly all types of edits. Although prime editing was first established in human cells, it has recently been applied to plants. As a relatively new technique, optimization will be needed to increase the editing efficiency in different crops. In this study, we successfully edited a mutant GFP in rice, peanut, chickpea, and cowpea protoplasts. In rice, up to 16 times higher editing efficiency was achieved with a dual pegRNA than the single pegRNA containing vectors. Edited-mutant GFP protoplasts have also been obtained in peanut, chickpea, and cowpea after transformation with the dual pegRNA vectors, albeit with much lower editing efficiency than in rice, ranging from 0.2% to 0.5%. These initial results promise to expedite the application of prime editing in legume breeding programs to accelerate crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Biswas
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Aya Bridgeland
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Samra Irum
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Michael J. Thomson
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Endang M. Septiningsih
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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4
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Zhang RX, Li BB, Yang ZG, Huang JQ, Sun WH, Bhanbhro N, Liu WT, Chen KM. Dissecting Plant Gene Functions Using CRISPR Toolsets for Crop Improvement. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:7343-7359. [PMID: 35695482 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The CRISPR-based gene editing technology has become more and more powerful in genome manipulation for agricultural breeding, with numerous improved toolsets springing up. In recent years, many CRISPR toolsets for gene editing, such as base editors (BEs), CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), and plant epigenetic editors (PEEs), have been developed to clarify gene function and full-level gene regulation. Here, we comprehensively summarize the application and capacity of the different CRISPR toolsets in the study of plant gene expression regulation, highlighting their potential application in gene regulatory networks' analysis. The general problems in CRISPR application and the optimal solutions in the existing schemes for high-throughput gene function analysis are also discussed. The CRISPR toolsets targeting gene manipulation discussed here provide new solutions for further genetic improvement and molecular breeding of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Bin-Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zheng-Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jia-Qi Huang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China
| | - Wei-Hang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Nadeem Bhanbhro
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Wen-Ting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Kun-Ming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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Das D, Singha DL, Paswan RR, Chowdhury N, Sharma M, Reddy PS, Chikkaputtaiah C. Recent advancements in CRISPR/Cas technology for accelerated crop improvement. PLANTA 2022; 255:109. [PMID: 35460444 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-022-03894-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Precise genome engineering approaches could be perceived as a second paradigm for targeted trait improvement in crop plants, with the potential to overcome the constraints imposed by conventional CRISPR/Cas technology. The likelihood of reduced agricultural production due to highly turbulent climatic conditions increases as the global population expands. The second paradigm of stress-resilient crops with enhanced tolerance and increased productivity against various stresses is paramount to support global production and consumption equilibrium. Although traditional breeding approaches have substantially increased crop production and yield, effective strategies are anticipated to restore crop productivity even further in meeting the world's increasing food demands. CRISPR/Cas, which originated in prokaryotes, has surfaced as a coveted genome editing tool in recent decades, reshaping plant molecular biology in unprecedented ways and paving the way for engineering stress-tolerant crops. CRISPR/Cas is distinguished by its efficiency, high target specificity, and modularity, enables precise genetic modification of crop plants, allowing for the creation of allelic variations in the germplasm and the development of novel and more productive agricultural practices. Additionally, a slew of advanced biotechnologies premised on the CRISPR/Cas methodologies have augmented fundamental research and plant synthetic biology toolkits. Here, we describe gene editing tools, including CRISPR/Cas and its imitative tools, such as base and prime editing, multiplex genome editing, chromosome engineering followed by their implications in crop genetic improvement. Further, we comprehensively discuss the latest developments of CRISPR/Cas technology including CRISPR-mediated gene drive, tissue-specific genome editing, dCas9 mediated epigenetic modification and programmed self-elimination of transgenes in plants. Finally, we highlight the applicability and scope of advanced CRISPR-based techniques in crop genetic improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debajit Das
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
| | - Dhanawantari L Singha
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
| | - Ricky Raj Paswan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, 785013, India
| | - Naimisha Chowdhury
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
| | - Monica Sharma
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
| | - Palakolanu Sudhakar Reddy
- International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, 502 324, India
| | - Channakeshavaiah Chikkaputtaiah
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India.
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6
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Ali Q, Yu C, Hussain A, Ali M, Ahmar S, Sohail MA, Riaz M, Ashraf MF, Abdalmegeed D, Wang X, Imran M, Manghwar H, Zhou L. Genome Engineering Technology for Durable Disease Resistance: Recent Progress and Future Outlooks for Sustainable Agriculture. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:860281. [PMID: 35371164 PMCID: PMC8968944 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.860281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Crop production worldwide is under pressure from multiple factors, including reductions in available arable land and sources of water, along with the emergence of new pathogens and development of resistance in pre-existing pathogens. In addition, the ever-growing world population has increased the demand for food, which is predicted to increase by more than 100% by 2050. To meet these needs, different techniques have been deployed to produce new cultivars with novel heritable mutations. Although traditional breeding continues to play a vital role in crop improvement, it typically involves long and laborious artificial planting over multiple generations. Recently, the application of innovative genome engineering techniques, particularly CRISPR-Cas9-based systems, has opened up new avenues that offer the prospects of sustainable farming in the modern agricultural industry. In addition, the emergence of novel editing systems has enabled the development of transgene-free non-genetically modified plants, which represent a suitable option for improving desired traits in a range of crop plants. To date, a number of disease-resistant crops have been produced using gene-editing tools, which can make a significant contribution to overcoming disease-related problems. Not only does this directly minimize yield losses but also reduces the reliance on pesticide application, thereby enhancing crop productivity that can meet the globally increasing demand for food. In this review, we describe recent progress in genome engineering techniques, particularly CRISPR-Cas9 systems, in development of disease-resistant crop plants. In addition, we describe the role of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing in sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qurban Ali
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Disease and Pest Insects, College of Plant Protection, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chenjie Yu
- Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Disease and Pest Insects, College of Plant Protection, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Amjad Hussain
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mohsin Ali
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sunny Ahmar
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Muhammad Aamir Sohail
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Muhammad Riaz
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Root Biology Center, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Furqan Ashraf
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dyaaaldin Abdalmegeed
- Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Disease and Pest Insects, College of Plant Protection, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Xiukang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an, China
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, South China Agriculture University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hakim Manghwar
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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Tiwari JK, Buckseth T, Challam C, Zinta R, Bhatia N, Dalamu D, Naik S, Poonia AK, Singh RK, Luthra SK, Kumar V, Kumar M. CRISPR/Cas Genome Editing in Potato: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Front Genet 2022; 13:827808. [PMID: 35186041 PMCID: PMC8849127 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.827808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rasna Zinta
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India.,School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Nisha Bhatia
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India.,School of Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, India
| | - Dalamu Dalamu
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India
| | - Sharmistha Naik
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India.,ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, India
| | - Anuj K Poonia
- School of Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, India
| | | | | | - Vinod Kumar
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Meerut, India
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8
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Jin S, Lin Q, Luo Y, Zhu Z, Liu G, Li Y, Chen K, Qiu JL, Gao C. Genome-wide specificity of prime editors in plants. Nat Biotechnol 2021; 39:1292-1299. [PMID: 33859403 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-00891-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although prime editors (PEs) have the potential to facilitate precise genome editing in therapeutic, agricultural and research applications, their specificity has not been comprehensively evaluated. To provide a systematic assessment in plants, we first examined the mismatch tolerance of PEs in plant cells and found that the editing frequency was influenced by the number and location of mismatches in the primer binding site and spacer of the prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA). Assessing the activity of 12 pegRNAs at 179 predicted off-target sites, we detected only low frequencies of off-target edits (0.00~0.23%). Whole-genome sequencing of 29 PE-treated rice plants confirmed that PEs do not induce genome-wide pegRNA-independent off-target single-nucleotide variants or small insertions/deletions. We also show that ectopic expression of the Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase as part of the PE does not change retrotransposon copy number or telomere structure or cause insertion of pegRNA or messenger RNA sequences into the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiupeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingfeng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zixu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guanwen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunjia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kunling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Long Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caixia Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Molla KA, Sretenovic S, Bansal KC, Qi Y. Precise plant genome editing using base editors and prime editors. NATURE PLANTS 2021; 7:1166-1187. [PMID: 34518669 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-00991-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of CRISPR-Cas systems has sparked a genome editing revolution in plant genetics and breeding. These sequence-specific RNA-guided nucleases can induce DNA double-stranded breaks, resulting in mutations by imprecise non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair or precise DNA sequence replacement by homology-directed repair (HDR). However, HDR is highly inefficient in many plant species, which has greatly limited precise genome editing in plants. To fill the vital gap in precision editing, base editing and prime editing technologies have recently been developed and demonstrated in numerous plant species. These technologies, which are mainly based on Cas9 nickases, can introduce precise changes into the target genome at a single-base resolution. This Review provides a timely overview of the current status of base editors and prime editors in plants, covering both technological developments and biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kutubuddin A Molla
- Crop Improvement Division, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, India.
| | - Simon Sretenovic
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Kailash C Bansal
- The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Asia-India, New Delhi, India
| | - Yiping Qi
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA.
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Huang TK, Puchta H. Novel CRISPR/Cas applications in plants: from prime editing to chromosome engineering. Transgenic Res 2021; 30:529-549. [PMID: 33646511 PMCID: PMC8316200 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-021-00238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In the last years, tremendous progress has been made in the development of CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing tools. A number of natural CRISPR/Cas nuclease variants have been characterized. Engineered Cas proteins have been developed to minimize PAM restrictions, off-side effects and temperature sensitivity. Both kinds of enzymes have, by now, been applied widely and efficiently in many plant species to generate either single or multiple mutations at the desired loci by multiplexing. In addition to DSB-induced mutagenesis, specifically designed CRISPR/Cas systems allow more precise gene editing, resulting not only in random mutations but also in predefined changes. Applications in plants include gene targeting by homologous recombination, base editing and, more recently, prime editing. We will evaluate these different technologies for their prospects and practical applicability in plants. In addition, we will discuss a novel application of the Cas9 nuclease in plants, enabling the induction of heritable chromosomal rearrangements, such as inversions and translocations. This technique will make it possible to change genetic linkages in a programmed way and add another level of genome engineering to the toolbox of plant breeding. Also, strategies for tissue culture free genome editing were developed, which might be helpful to overcome the transformation bottlenecks in many crops. All in all, the recent advances of CRISPR/Cas technology will help agriculture to address the challenges of the twenty-first century related to global warming, pollution and the resulting food shortage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Kuei Huang
- Botanical Institute II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, POB 6980, 76049, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Holger Puchta
- Botanical Institute II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, POB 6980, 76049, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Azameti MK, Dauda WP. Base Editing in Plants: Applications, Challenges, and Future Prospects. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:664997. [PMID: 34386023 PMCID: PMC8353127 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.664997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The ability to create targeted modifications in the genomes of plants using genome editing technologies has revolutionized research in crop improvement in the current dispensation of molecular biology. This technology has attracted global attention and has been employed in functional analysis studies in crop plants. Since many important agronomic traits are confirmed to be determined by single-nucleotide polymorphisms, improved crop varieties could be developed by the programmed and precise conversion of targeted single bases in the genomes of plants. One novel genome editing approach which serves for this purpose is base editing. Base editing directly makes targeted and irreversible base conversion without creating double-strand breaks (DSBs). This technology has recently gained quick acceptance and adaptation because of its precision, simplicity, and multiplex capabilities. This review focuses on generating different base-editing technologies and how efficient they are in editing nucleic acids. Emphasis is placed on the exploration and applications of these base-editing technologies to enhance crop production. The review also highlights the drawbacks and the prospects of this new technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mawuli K. Azameti
- National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
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12
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Čermák T. Sequence modification on demand: search and replace tools for precise gene editing in plants. Transgenic Res 2021; 30:353-379. [PMID: 34086167 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-021-00253-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Until recently, our ability to generate allelic diversity in plants was limited to introduction of variants from domesticated and wild species by breeding via uncontrolled recombination or the use of chemical and physical mutagens-processes that are lengthy and costly or lack specificity, respectively. Gene editing provides a faster and more precise way to create new variation, although its application in plants has been dominated by the creation of short insertion and deletion mutations leading to loss of gene function, mostly due to the dependence of editing outcomes on DNA repair pathway choices intrinsic to higher eukaryotes. Other types of edits such as point mutations and precise and pre-designed targeted sequence insertions have rarely been implemented, despite providing means to modulate the expression of target genes or to engineer the function and stability of their protein products. Several advancements have been developed in recent years to facilitate custom editing by regulation of repair pathway choices or by taking advantage of alternative types of DNA repair. We have seen the advent of novel gene editing tools that are independent of DNA double-strand break repair, and methods completely independent of host DNA repair processes are being increasingly explored. With the aim to provide a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art methodology for allele replacement in plants, I discuss the adoption of these improvements for plant genome engineering.
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Genome editing of polyploid crops: prospects, achievements and bottlenecks. Transgenic Res 2021; 30:337-351. [PMID: 33846956 PMCID: PMC8316217 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-021-00251-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Plant breeding aims to develop improved crop varieties. Many crops have a polyploid and often highly heterozygous genome, which may make breeding of polyploid crops a real challenge. The efficiency of traditional breeding based on crossing and selection has been improved by using marker-assisted selection (MAS), and MAS is also being applied in polyploid crops, which helps e.g. for introgression breeding. However, methods such as random mutation breeding are difficult to apply in polyploid crops because there are multiple homoeologous copies (alleles) of each gene. Genome editing technology has revolutionized mutagenesis as it enables precisely selecting targets. The genome editing tool CRISPR/Cas is especially valuable for targeted mutagenesis in polyploids, as all alleles and/or copies of a gene can be targeted at once. Even multiple genes, each with multiple alleles, may be targeted simultaneously. In addition to targeted mutagenesis, targeted replacement of undesirable alleles by desired ones may become a promising application of genome editing for the improvement of polyploid crops, in the near future. Several examples of the application of genome editing for targeted mutagenesis are described here for a range of polyploid crops, and achievements and bottlenecks are highlighted.
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Wang L, Kaya HB, Zhang N, Rai R, Willmann MR, Carpenter SCD, Read AC, Martin F, Fei Z, Leach JE, Martin GB, Bogdanove AJ. Spelling Changes and Fluorescent Tagging With Prime Editing Vectors for Plants. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:617553. [PMID: 34713247 PMCID: PMC8525380 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.617553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prime editing is an adaptation of the CRISPR-Cas system that uses a Cas9(H840A)-reverse transcriptase fusion and a guide RNA amended with template and primer binding site sequences to achieve RNA-templated conversion of the target DNA, allowing specified substitutions, insertions, and deletions. In the first report of prime editing in plants, a variety of edits in rice and wheat were described, including insertions up to 15 bp. Several studies in rice quickly followed, but none reported a larger insertion. Here, we report easy-to-use vectors for prime editing in dicots as well as monocots, their validation in Nicotiana benthamiana, rice, and Arabidopsis, and an insertion of 66 bp that enabled split-GFP fluorescent tagging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Hilal Betul Kaya
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Ning Zhang
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Rhitu Rai
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Plant Pathogen Interaction, National Institute for Plant Biotechnology (ICAR), New Delhi, India
| | - Matthew R. Willmann
- Plant Transformation Facility, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Sara C. D. Carpenter
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Andrew C. Read
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Federico Martin
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Zhangjun Fei
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Jan E. Leach
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Gregory B. Martin
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Adam J. Bogdanove
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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Zhang D, Zhang Z, Unver T, Zhang B. CRISPR/Cas: A powerful tool for gene function study and crop improvement. J Adv Res 2021; 29:207-221. [PMID: 33842017 PMCID: PMC8020163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It is a long-standing goal of scientists and breeders to precisely control a gene for studying its function as well as improving crop yield, quality, and tolerance to various environmental stresses. The discovery and modification of CRISPR/Cas system, a nature-occurred gene editing tool, opens an era for studying gene function and precision crop breeding. Aim of Review In this review, we first introduce the brief history of CRISPR/Cas discovery followed the mechanism and application of CRISPR/Cas system on gene function study and crop improvement. Currently, CRISPR/Cas genome editing has been becoming a mature cutting-edge biotechnological tool for crop improvement that already used in many different traits in crops, including pathogen resistance, abiotic tolerance, plant development and morphology and even secondary metabolism and fiber development. Finally, we point out the major issues associating with CRISPR/Cas system and the future research directions.Key Scientific Concepts of Review: CRISPR/Cas9 system is a robust and powerful biotechnological tool for targeting an individual DNA and RNA sequence in the genome. It can be used to target a sequence for gene knockin, knockout and replacement as well as monitoring and regulating gene expression at the genome and epigenome levels by binding a specific sequence. Agrobacterium-mediated method is still the major and efficient method for delivering CRISPR/Cas regents into targeted plant cells. However, other delivery methods, such as virus-mediated method, have been developed and enhanced the application potentials of CRISPR/Cas9-based crop improvement. PAM requirement offers the CRISPR/Cas9-targted genetic loci and also limits the application of CRISPR/Cas9. Discovering new Cas proteins and modifying current Cas enzymes play an important role in CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing. Developing a better CRISPR/Cas9 system, including the delivery system and the methods eliminating off-target effects, and finding key/master genes for controlling crop growth and development is two major directions for CRISPR/Cas9-based crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dangquan Zhang
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Forest Biomass Value-Added Products, College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding and Henan Key Laboratory for Molecular Ecology and Germplasm Innovation of Cotton and Wheat, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Turgay Unver
- Ficus Biotechnology, Ostim Teknopark, No: 1/1/76, 06378, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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Bosch JA, Birchak G, Perrimon N. Precise genome engineering in Drosophila using prime editing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2021996118. [PMID: 33443210 PMCID: PMC7817132 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021996118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise genome editing is a valuable tool to study gene function in model organisms. Prime editing, a precise editing system developed in mammalian cells, does not require double-strand breaks or donor DNA and has low off-target effects. Here, we applied prime editing for the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and developed conditions for optimal editing. By expressing prime editing components in cultured cells or somatic cells of transgenic flies, we precisely introduce premature stop codons in three classical visible marker genes, ebony, white, and forked Furthermore, by restricting editing to germ cells, we demonstrate efficient germ-line transmission of a precise edit in ebony to 36% of progeny. Our results suggest that prime editing is a useful system in Drosophila to study gene function, such as engineering precise point mutations, deletions, or epitope tags.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Bosch
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115;
| | - Gabriel Birchak
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115;
- HHMI, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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