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Brant EJ, Eid A, Kannan B, Baloglu MC, Altpeter F. The extent of multiallelic, co-editing of LIGULELESS1 in highly polyploid sugarcane tunes leaf inclination angle and enables selection of the ideotype for biomass yield. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024. [PMID: 38776398 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) is a prime feedstock for commercial production of biofuel and table sugar. Optimizing canopy architecture for improved light capture has great potential for elevating biomass yield. LIGULELESS1 (LG1) is involved in leaf ligule and auricle development in grasses. Here, we report CRISPR/Cas9-mediated co-mutagenesis of up to 40 copies/alleles of the putative LG1 in highly polyploid sugarcane (2n = 100-120, x = 10-12). Next generation sequencing revealed co-editing frequencies of 7.4%-100% of the LG1 reads in 16 of the 78 transgenic lines. LG1 mutations resulted in a tuneable leaf angle phenotype that became more upright as co-editing frequency increased. Three lines with loss of function frequencies of ~12%, ~53% and ~95% of lg1 were selected following a randomized greenhouse trial and grown in replicated, multi-row field plots. The co-edited LG1 mutations were stably maintained in vegetative progenies and the extent of co-editing remained constant in field tested lines L26 and L35. Next generation sequencing confirmed the absence of potential off targets. The leaf inclination angle corresponded to light transmission into the canopy and tiller number. Line L35 displaying loss of function in ~12% of the lg1 NGS reads exhibited an 18% increase in dry biomass yield supported by a 56% decrease in leaf inclination angle, a 31% increase in tiller number, and a 25% increase in internode number. The scalable co-editing of LG1 in highly polyploid sugarcane allows fine-tuning of leaf inclination angle, enabling the selection of the ideotype for biomass yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor J Brant
- Agronomy Department, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ayman Eid
- Agronomy Department, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Baskaran Kannan
- Agronomy Department, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Mehmet Cengiz Baloglu
- Agronomy Department, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Fredy Altpeter
- Agronomy Department, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, IFAS, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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2
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Laksana C, Sophiphun O, Chanprame S. Lignin reduction in sugarcane by performing CRISPR/Cas9 site-direct mutation of SoLIM transcription factor. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 340:111987. [PMID: 38220093 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Genetic engineering of plant cell walls is limited for reducing lignocellulose recalcitrance, so mild and/or green-like pretreatment is still required for sequential enzymatic saccharification. Here, we report a method to reduce lignin content in sugarcane stalks using the CRISPR/Cas 9 technique. Three target sequences of SoLIM were designed and fused to pRGEB32. The cassette constructs were introduced into sugarcane calli cv. KK3 through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We produced one base substitution and one insertion line for the 1st target site; two insertions, one deletion, and one base substitution for the 2nd target site; and one base substitution and insertion for the 3rd target site. qRT-PCR analysis of SoLIM, SoPAL, SoC4H, and SoCAD showeded that downregulation of SoLIM by single nucleotide insertions or deletions reduced the expression of SoPAL, SoC4H, and SoCAD. Consequently, the edited lines contained 9.74 to 51.46% less lignin content compared to that in the wild-type plants. The syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio of the edited lines ranged between 0.23 and 0.49, while the wild-type was 0.22. The histochemical evaluation and scanning electron microscopy of the cell walls supported this observation. A low lignin content sugarcane will provide a better feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanakan Laksana
- Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Burapha University Sakaeo Campus, Sakaeo 27160, Thailand
| | - Onsulang Sophiphun
- Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Burapha University Sakaeo Campus, Sakaeo 27160, Thailand
| | - Sontichai Chanprame
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand.
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3
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Wang Y, Song S, Hao Y, Chen C, Ou X, He B, Zhang J, Jiang Z, Li C, Zhang S, Su W, Chen R. Role of BraRGL1 in regulation of Brassica rapa bolting and flowering. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad119. [PMID: 37547730 PMCID: PMC10402658 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Gibberellin (GA) plays a major role in controlling Brassica rapa stalk development. As an essential negative regulator of GA signal transduction, DELLA proteins may exert significant effects on stalk development. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying this regulation remain unclear. In this study, we report highly efficient and inheritable mutagenesis using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system in BraPDS (phytoene desaturase) and BraRGL1 (key DELLA protein) genes. We observed a loss-of-function mutation in BraRGL1 due to two amino acids in GRAS domain. The flower bud differentiation and bolting time of BraRGL1 mutants were significantly advanced. The expression of GA-regulatory protein (BraGASA6), flowering related genes (BraSOC1, BraLFY), expansion protein (BraEXPA11) and xyloglucan endotransferase (BraXTH3) genes was also significantly upregulated in these mutants. BraRGL1-overexpressing plants displayed the contrasting phenotypes. BraRGL1 mutants were more sensitive to GA signaling. BraRGL1 interacted with BraSOC1, and the interaction intensity decreased after GA3 treatment. In addition, BraRGL1 inhibited the transcription-activation ability of BraSOC1 for BraXTH3 and BraLFY genes, but the presence of GA3 enhanced the activation ability of BraSOC1, suggesting that the BraRGL1-BraSOC1 module regulates bolting and flowering of B. rapa through GA signal transduction. Thus, we hypothesized that BraRGL1 is degraded, and BraSOC1 is released in the presence of GA3, which promotes the expression of BraXTH3 and BraLFY, thereby inducing stalk development in B. rapa. Further, the BraRGL1-M mutant promoted the flower bud differentiation without affecting the stalk quality. Thus, BraRGL1 can serve as a valuable target for the molecular breeding of early maturing varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | | | - Yanwei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Changming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xi Ou
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Bin He
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiewen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhehao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Chengming Li
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Shuaiwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Innovation in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wei Su
- Corresponding authors. E-mails: ; ;
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May D, Sanchez S, Gilby J, Altpeter F. Multi-allelic gene editing in an apomictic, tetraploid turf and forage grass ( Paspalum notatum Flüggé) using CRISPR/Cas9. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1225775. [PMID: 37521929 PMCID: PMC10373592 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1225775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Polyploidy is common among grasses (Poaceae) and poses challenges for conventional breeding. Genome editing technology circumvents crossing and selfing, enabling targeted modifications to multiple gene copies in a single generation while maintaining the heterozygous context of many polyploid genomes. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé; 2n=4x=40) is an apomictic, tetraploid C4 species that is widely grown in the southeastern United States as forage in beef cattle production and utility turf. The chlorophyll biosynthesis gene magnesium chelatase (MgCh) was selected as a rapid readout target for establishing genome editing in tetraploid bahiagrass. Vectors containing sgRNAs, Cas9 and nptII were delivered to callus cultures by biolistics. Edited plants were characterized through PCR-based assays and DNA sequencing, and mutagenesis frequencies as high as 99% of Illumina reads were observed. Sequencing of wild type (WT) bahiagrass revealed a high level of sequence variation in MgCh likely due to the presence of at least two copies with possibly eight different alleles, including pseudogenes. MgCh mutants exhibited visible chlorophyll depletion with up to 82% reductions in leaf greenness. Two lines displayed progression of editing over time which was linked to somatic editing. Apomictic progeny of a chimeric MgCh editing event were obtained and allowed identification of uniformly edited progeny plants among a range of chlorophyll depletion phenotypes. Sanger sequencing of a highly edited mutant revealed elevated frequency of a WT allele, probably due to frequent homology-directed repair (HDR). To our knowledge these experiments comprise the first report of genome editing applied in perennial, warm-season turf or forage grasses. This technology will accelerate bahiagrass cultivar development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David May
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sara Sanchez
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jennifer Gilby
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Fredy Altpeter
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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5
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Brooks EG, Elorriaga E, Liu Y, Duduit JR, Yuan G, Tsai CJ, Tuskan GA, Ranney TG, Yang X, Liu W. Plant Promoters and Terminators for High-Precision Bioengineering. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2023; 5:0013. [PMID: 37849460 PMCID: PMC10328392 DOI: 10.34133/bdr.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
High-precision bioengineering and synthetic biology require fine-tuning gene expression at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Gene transcription is tightly regulated by promoters and terminators. Promoters determine the timing, tissues and cells, and levels of the expression of genes. Terminators mediate transcription termination of genes and affect mRNA levels posttranscriptionally, e.g., the 3'-end processing, stability, translation efficiency, and nuclear to cytoplasmic export of mRNAs. The promoter and terminator combination affects gene expression. In the present article, we review the function and features of plant core promoters, proximal and distal promoters, and terminators, and their effects on and benchmarking strategies for regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G. Brooks
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Estefania Elorriaga
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - James R. Duduit
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Guoliang Yuan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Chung-Jui Tsai
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Gerald A. Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Thomas G. Ranney
- Mountain Crop Improvement Lab, Department of Horticultural Science, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, North Carolina State University, Mills River, NC 28759, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Wusheng Liu
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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6
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Nagle MF, Nahata SS, Zahl B, Niño de Rivera A, Tacker XV, Elorriaga E, Ma C, Goralogia GS, Klocko AL, Gordon M, Joshi S, Strauss SH. Knockout of floral and meiosis genes using CRISPR/Cas9 produces male-sterility in Eucalyptus without impacts on vegetative growth. PLANT DIRECT 2023; 7:e507. [PMID: 37456612 PMCID: PMC10345981 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Eucalyptus spp. are widely cultivated for the production of pulp, energy, essential oils, and as ornamentals. However, their dispersal from plantings, especially when grown as an exotic, can cause ecological disruptions. To provide new tools for prevention of sexual dispersal by pollen as well as to induce male-sterility for hybrid breeding, we studied the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated knockout of three floral genes in both FT-expressing (early-flowering) and non-FT genotypes. We report male-sterile phenotypes resulting from knockout of the homologs of all three genes, including one involved in meiosis and two regulating early stages of pollen development. The targeted genes were Eucalyptus homologs of REC8 (EREC8), TAPETAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION 1 (ETDF1), and HECATE3 (EHEC3-like). The erec8 knockouts yielded abnormal pollen grains and a predominance of inviable pollen, whereas the etdf1 and ehec3-like knockouts produced virtually no pollen. In addition to male-sterility, both erec8 and ehec3-like knockouts may provide complete sterility because the failure of erec8 to undergo meiosis is expected to be independent of sex, and ehec3-like knockouts produce flowers with shortened styles and no visible stigmas. When comparing knockouts to controls in wild-type (non-early-flowering) backgrounds, we did not find visible morphological or statistical differences in vegetative traits, including average single-leaf mass, stem volume, density of oil glands, or chlorophyll in leaves. Loss-of-function mutations in any of these three genes show promise as a means of inducing male- or complete sterility without impacting vegetative development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F. Nagle
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Surbhi S. Nahata
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Bahiya Zahl
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Alexa Niño de Rivera
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Xavier V. Tacker
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Estefania Elorriaga
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Cathleen Ma
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Greg S. Goralogia
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Amy L. Klocko
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Michael Gordon
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Sonali Joshi
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Steven H. Strauss
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
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7
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Yao T, Yuan G, Lu H, Liu Y, Zhang J, Tuskan GA, Muchero W, Chen JG, Yang X. CRISPR/Cas9-based gene activation and base editing in Populus. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad085. [PMID: 37323227 PMCID: PMC10266945 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The genus Populus has long been used for environmental, agroforestry and industrial applications worldwide. Today Populus is also recognized as a desirable crop for biofuel production and a model tree for physiological and ecological research. As such, various modern biotechnologies, including CRISPR/Cas9-based techniques, have been actively applied to Populus for genetic and genomic improvements for traits such as increased growth rate and tailored lignin composition. However, CRISPR/Cas9 has been primarily used as the active Cas9 form to create knockouts in the hybrid poplar clone "717-1B4" (P. tremula x P. alba clone INRA 717-1B4). Alternative CRISPR/Cas9-based technologies, e.g. those involving modified Cas9 for gene activation and base editing, have not been evaluated in most Populus species for their efficacy. Here we employed a deactivated Cas9 (dCas9)-based CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) technique to fine-tune the expression of two target genes, TPX2 and LecRLK-G which play important roles in plant growth and defense response, in hybrid poplar clone "717-1B4" and poplar clone "WV94" (P. deltoides "WV94"), respectively. We observed that CRISPRa resulted in 1.2-fold to 7.0-fold increase in target gene expression through transient expression in protoplasts and Agrobacterium-mediated stable transformation, demonstrating the effectiveness of dCas9-based CRISPRa system in Populus. In addition, we applied Cas9 nickase (nCas9)-based cytosine base editor (CBE) to precisely introduce premature stop codons via C-to-T conversion, with an efficiency of 13%-14%, in the target gene PLATZ which encodes a transcription factor involved in plant fungal pathogen response in hybrid poplar clone "717-1B4". Overall, we showcase the successful application of CRISPR/Cas-based technologies in gene expression regulation and precise gene engineering in two Populus species, facilitating the adoption of emerging genome editing tools in woody species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University; Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Gerald A Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | | | | | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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8
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Liu Y, Yuan G, Hyden B, Tuskan GA, Abraham PE, Yang X. Expanding the application of anti-CRISPR proteins in plants for tunable genome editing. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 192:60-64. [PMID: 36757014 PMCID: PMC10152675 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Anti-CRISPR proteins are very efficient for inhibiting CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing tools in both herbaceous and woody plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Guoliang Yuan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Brennan Hyden
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Gerald A Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Paul E Abraham
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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9
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Yuan G, Liu Y, Yao T, Muchero W, Chen JG, Tuskan GA, Yang X. eYGFPuv-Assisted Transgenic Selection in Populus deltoides WV94 and Multiplex Genome Editing in Protoplasts of P. trichocarpa × P. deltoides Clone '52-225'. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1657. [PMID: 37111880 PMCID: PMC10145771 DOI: 10.3390/plants12081657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Although CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing has been widely used for plant genetic engineering, its application in the genetic improvement of trees has been limited, partly because of challenges in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. As an important model for poplar genomics and biotechnology research, eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) clone WV94 can be transformed by A. tumefaciens, but several challenges remain unresolved, including the relatively low transformation efficiency and the relatively high rate of false positives from antibiotic-based selection of transgenic events. Moreover, the efficacy of CRISPR-Cas system has not been explored in P. deltoides yet. Here, we first optimized the protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated stable transformation in P. deltoides WV94 and applied a UV-visible reporter called eYGFPuv in transformation. Our results showed that the transgenic events in the early stage of transformation could be easily recognized and counted in a non-invasive manner to narrow down the number of regenerated shoots for further molecular characterization (at the DNA or mRNA level) using PCR. We found that approximately 8.7% of explants regenerated transgenic shoots with green fluorescence within two months. Next, we examined the efficacy of multiplex CRISPR-based genome editing in the protoplasts derived from P. deltoides WV94 and hybrid poplar clone '52-225' (P. trichocarpa × P. deltoides clone '52-225'). The two constructs expressing the Trex2-Cas9 system resulted in mutation efficiency ranging from 31% to 57% in hybrid poplar clone 52-225, but no editing events were observed in P. deltoides WV94 transient assay. The eYGFPuv-assisted plant transformation and genome editing approach demonstrated in this study has great potential for accelerating the genome editing-based breeding process in poplar and other non-model plants species and point to the need for additional CRISPR work in P. deltoides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoliang Yuan
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Chemical and Biological Process Development Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Tao Yao
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Wellington Muchero
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Jin-Gui Chen
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Gerald A. Tuskan
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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10
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May D, Paldi K, Altpeter F. Targeted mutagenesis with sequence-specific nucleases for accelerated improvement of polyploid crops: Progress, challenges, and prospects. THE PLANT GENOME 2023:e20298. [PMID: 36692095 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Many of the world's most important crops are polyploid. The presence of more than two sets of chromosomes within their nuclei and frequently aberrant reproductive biology in polyploids present obstacles to conventional breeding. The presence of a larger number of homoeologous copies of each gene makes random mutation breeding a daunting task for polyploids. Genome editing has revolutionized improvement of polyploid crops as multiple gene copies and/or alleles can be edited simultaneously while preserving the key attributes of elite cultivars. Most genome-editing platforms employ sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs) to generate DNA double-stranded breaks at their target gene. Such DNA breaks are typically repaired via the error-prone nonhomologous end-joining process, which often leads to frame shift mutations, causing loss of gene function. Genome editing has enhanced the disease resistance, yield components, and end-use quality of polyploid crops. However, identification of candidate targets, genotyping, and requirement of high mutagenesis efficiency remain bottlenecks for targeted mutagenesis in polyploids. In this review, we will survey the tremendous progress of SSN-mediated targeted mutagenesis in polyploid crop improvement, discuss its challenges, and identify optimizations needed to sustain further progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- David May
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Katalin Paldi
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fredy Altpeter
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
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11
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Ye S, Ding W, Bai W, Lu J, Zhou L, Ma X, Zhu Q. Application of a novel strong promoter from Chinese fir ( Cunninghamia lanceolate) in the CRISPR/Cas mediated genome editing of its protoplasts and transgenesis of rice and poplar. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1179394. [PMID: 37152166 PMCID: PMC10157052 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1179394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Novel constitutive promoters are essential for plant biotechnology. Although in angiosperms, a number of promoters were applied in monocots or dicots genetic engineering, only a few promoters were used in gymnosperm. Here we identified two strong promoters (Cula11 and Cula08) from Chinese fir (C. lanceolate) by screening the transcriptomic data and preliminary promoter activity assays in tobacco. By using the newly established Chinese fir protoplast transient expression technology that enables in vivo molecular biology studies in its homologous system, we compared the activities of Cula11 and Cula08 with that of the commonly used promoters in genetic engineering of monocots or dicots, such as CaM35S, CmYLCV, and ZmUbi, and our results revealed that Cula11 and Cula08 promoters have stronger activities in Chinese fir protoplasts. Furthermore, the vector containing Cas gene driven by Cula11 promoter and sgRNA driven by the newly isolated CulaU6b polyIII promoters were introduced into Chinese fir protoplasts, and CRISPR/Cas mediated gene knock-out event was successfully achieved. More importantly, compared with the commonly used promoters in the genetic engineering in angiosperms, Cula11 promoter has much stronger activity than CaM35S promoter in transgenic poplar, and ZmUbi promoter in transgenic rice, respectively, indicating its potential application in poplar and rice genetic engineering. Overall, the novel putative constitutive gene promoters reported here will have great potential application in gymnosperm and angiosperm biotechnology, and the transient gene expression system established here will serve as a useful tool for the molecular and genetic analyses of Chinese fir genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Qiang Zhu
- *Correspondence: Xiangqing Ma, ; Qiang Zhu,
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12
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Ul Haq SI, Zheng D, Feng N, Jiang X, Qiao F, He JS, Qiu QS. Progresses of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in forage crops. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 279:153860. [PMID: 36371870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) mediated-genome editing has evolved into a powerful tool that is widely used in plant species to induce editing in the genome for analyzing gene function and crop improvement. CRISPR/Cas9 is an RNA-guided genome editing tool consisting of a Cas9 nuclease and a single-guide RNA (sgRNA). The CRISPR/Cas9 system enables more accurate and efficient genome editing in crops. In this review, we summarized the advances of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology in plant genome editing and its applications in forage crops. We described briefly about the development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in plant genome editing. We assessed the progress of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted-mutagenesis in various forage crops, including alfalfa, Medicago truncatula, Hordeum vulgare, Sorghum bicolor, Setaria italica and Panicum virgatum. The potentials and challenges of CRISPR/Cas9 in forage breeding were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Inzimam Ul Haq
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Dianfeng Zheng
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Naijie Feng
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China
| | - Feng Qiao
- Academy of Plateau Science and Sustainability, School of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, China
| | - Jin-Sheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Quan-Sheng Qiu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; Academy of Plateau Science and Sustainability, School of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, China; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, China.
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13
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Tiedge K, Destremps J, Solano-Sanchez J, Arce-Rodriguez ML, Zerbe P. Foxtail mosaic virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). PLANT METHODS 2022; 18:71. [PMID: 35644680 PMCID: PMC9150325 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-022-00903-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the genome for the allotetraploid bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has been established, limitations in mutant resources have hampered in planta gene function studies toward crop optimization. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a versatile technique for transient genetic studies. Here we report the implementation of foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV)-mediated gene silencing in switchgrass in above- and below-ground tissues and at different developmental stages. RESULTS The study demonstrated that leaf rub-inoculation is a suitable method for systemic gene silencing in switchgrass. For all three visual marker genes, Magnesium chelatase subunit D (ChlD) and I (ChlI) as well as phytoene desaturase (PDS), phenotypic changes were observed in leaves, albeit at different intensities. Gene silencing efficiency was verified by RT-PCR for all tested genes. Notably, systemic gene silencing was also observed in roots, although silencing efficiency was stronger in leaves (~ 63-94%) as compared to roots (~ 48-78%). Plants at a later developmental stage were moderately less amenable to VIGS than younger plants, but also less perturbed by the viral infection. CONCLUSIONS Using FoMV-mediated VIGS could be achieved in switchgrass leaves and roots, providing an alternative approach for studying gene functions and physiological traits in this important bioenergy crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Tiedge
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, USA.
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, USA
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14
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The biological feasibility and social context of gene-edited, caffeine-free coffee. Food Sci Biotechnol 2022; 31:635-655. [PMID: 35646415 PMCID: PMC9133285 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-022-01082-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Coffee, especially the species Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, is one of the world’s most consumed beverages. The consumer demand for caffeine-free coffee is currently being met through chemical decaffeination processes. However, this method leads to loss of beverage quality. In this review, the feasibility of using gene editing to produce caffeine-free coffee plants is reviewed. The genes XMT (7-methylxanthosine methyltransferase) and DXMT (3,7-dimethylxanthine methyltransferase) were identified as candidate target genes for knocking out caffeine production in coffee plants. The possible effect of the knock-out of the candidate genes was assessed. Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated introduction of the CRISPR-Cas system to Knock out XMT or DXMT would lead to blocking caffeine biosynthesis. The use of CRISPR-Cas to genetically edit consumer products is not yet widely accepted, which may lead to societal hurdles for introducing gene-edited caffeine-free coffee cultivars onto the market. However, increased acceptance of CRISPR-Cas/gene editing on products with a clear benefit for consumers offers better prospects for gene editing efforts for caffeine-free coffee.
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15
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Muguerza MB, Gondo T, Ishigaki G, Shimamoto Y, Umami N, Nitthaisong P, Rahman MM, Akashi R. Tissue Culture and Somatic Embryogenesis in Warm-Season Grasses—Current Status and Its Applications: A Review. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11091263. [PMID: 35567264 PMCID: PMC9101205 DOI: 10.3390/plants11091263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Warm-season grasses are C4 plants and have a high capacity for biomass productivity. These grasses are utilized in many agricultural production systems with their greatest value as feeds for livestock, bioethanol, and turf. However, many important warm-season perennial grasses multiply either by vegetative propagation or form their seeds by an asexual mode of reproduction called apomixis. Therefore, the improvement of these grasses by conventional breeding is difficult and is dependent on the availability of natural genetic variation and its manipulation through breeding and selection. Recent studies have indicated that plant tissue culture system through somatic embryogenesis complements and could further develop conventional breeding programs by micropropagation, somaclonal variation, somatic hybridization, genetic transformation, and genome editing. This review summarizes the tissue culture and somatic embryogenesis in warm-season grasses and focus on current status and above applications including the author’s progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Ballitoc Muguerza
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (M.B.M.); (G.I.); (Y.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Takahiro Gondo
- Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
- Correspondence:
| | - Genki Ishigaki
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (M.B.M.); (G.I.); (Y.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Yasuyo Shimamoto
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (M.B.M.); (G.I.); (Y.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Nafiatul Umami
- Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl Fauna 3, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia;
| | - Pattama Nitthaisong
- Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand;
| | - Mohammad Mijanur Rahman
- Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Jeli Campus, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli 17600, Kelantan, Malaysia;
| | - Ryo Akashi
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (M.B.M.); (G.I.); (Y.S.); (R.A.)
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16
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VanWallendael A, Lowry DB, Hamilton JA. One hundred years into the study of ecotypes, new advances are being made through large-scale field experiments in perennial plant systems. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 66:102152. [PMID: 35065527 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A hundred years after Turesson first clearly described how locally adaptive variation is distributed within species, plant biologists are making major breakthroughs in our understanding of mechanisms underlying adaptation from local populations to the scale of continents. Although the genetics of local adaptation has typically been studied in smaller reciprocal transplant experiments, it is now being evaluated with whole genomes in large-scale networks of common garden experiments with perennial switchgrass and poplar trees. These studies support the hypothesis that a complex combination of loci, both with and without adaptive trade-offs, underlies local adaptation and that hybridization and adaptive introgression play a key role in the evolution of these species. Future studies incorporating high-throughput phenotyping, gene expression, and modeling will be used to predict responses of these species to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Acer VanWallendael
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - David B Lowry
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Jill A Hamilton
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16801, USA
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17
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Tay Fernandez CG, Nestor BJ, Danilevicz MF, Marsh JI, Petereit J, Bayer PE, Batley J, Edwards D. Expanding Gene-Editing Potential in Crop Improvement with Pangenomes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042276. [PMID: 35216392 PMCID: PMC8879065 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pangenomes aim to represent the complete repertoire of the genome diversity present within a species or cohort of species, capturing the genomic structural variance between individuals. This genomic information coupled with phenotypic data can be applied to identify genes and alleles involved with abiotic stress tolerance, disease resistance, and other desirable traits. The characterisation of novel structural variants from pangenomes can support genome editing approaches such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR associated protein Cas (CRISPR-Cas), providing functional information on gene sequences and new target sites in variant-specific genes with increased efficiency. This review discusses the application of pangenomes in genome editing and crop improvement, focusing on the potential of pangenomes to accurately identify target genes for CRISPR-Cas editing of plant genomes while avoiding adverse off-target effects. We consider the limitations of applying CRISPR-Cas editing with pangenome references and potential solutions to overcome these limitations.
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18
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Singer SD, Burton Hughes K, Subedi U, Dhariwal GK, Kader K, Acharya S, Chen G, Hannoufa A. The CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Modulation of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 8 in Alfalfa Leads to Distinct Phenotypic Outcomes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:774146. [PMID: 35095953 PMCID: PMC8793889 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.774146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most widely grown perennial leguminous forage and is an essential component of the livestock industry. Previously, the RNAi-mediated down-regulation of alfalfa SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 8 (MsSPL8) was found to lead to increased branching, regrowth and biomass, as well as enhanced drought tolerance. In this study, we aimed to further characterize the function of MsSPL8 in alfalfa using CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations in this gene. We successfully generated alfalfa genotypes with small insertions/deletions (indels) at the target site in up to three of four MsSPL8 alleles in the first generation. The efficiency of editing appeared to be tightly linked to the particular gRNA used. The resulting genotypes displayed consistent morphological alterations, even with the presence of up to two wild-type MsSPL8 alleles, including reduced leaf size and early flowering. Other phenotypic effects appeared to be dependent upon mutational dosage, with those plants with the highest number of mutated MsSPL8 alleles also exhibiting significant decreases in internode length, plant height, shoot and root biomass, and root length. Furthermore, MsSPL8 mutants displayed improvements in their ability to withstand water-deficit compared to empty vector control genotypes. Taken together, our findings suggest that allelic mutational dosage can elicit phenotypic gradients in alfalfa, and discrepancies may exist in terms of MsSPL8 function between alfalfa genotypes, growth conditions, or specific alleles. In addition, our results provide the foundation for further research exploring drought tolerance mechanisms in a forage crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy D. Singer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Kimberley Burton Hughes
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Udaya Subedi
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Gaganpreet Kaur Dhariwal
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Kazi Kader
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Surya Acharya
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- London Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, Canada
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19
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Mohan C, Easterling M, Yau YY. Gene Editing Technologies for Sugarcane Improvement: Opportunities and Limitations. SUGAR TECH : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUGAR CROPS & RELATED INDUSTRIES 2022; 24:369-385. [PMID: 34667393 PMCID: PMC8517945 DOI: 10.1007/s12355-021-01045-8] [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: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Plant-based biofuels present a promising alternative to depleting non-renewable fuel resources. One of the benefits of biofuel is reduced environmental impact, including reduction in greenhouse gas emission which causes climate change. Sugarcane is one of the most important bioenergy crops. Sugarcane juice is used to produce table sugar and first-generation biofuel (e.g., bioethanol). Sugarcane bagasse is also a potential material for second-generation cellulosic biofuel production. Researchers worldwide are striving to improve sugarcane biomass yield and quality by a variety of means including biotechnological tools. This paper reviews the use of sugarcane as a feedstock for biofuel production, and gene manipulation tools and approaches, including RNAi and genome-editing tools, such as TALENs and CRISPR-Cas9, for improving its quality. The specific focus here is on CRISPR system because it is low cost, simple in design and versatile compared to other genome-editing tools. The advance of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has transformed plant research with its ability to precisely delete, insert or replace genes in recent years. Lignin is the primary material responsible for biomass recalcitrance in biofuel production. The use of genome editing technology to modify lignin composition and distribution in sugarcane cell wall has been realized. The current and potential applications of genome editing technology for sugarcane improvement are discussed. The advantages and limitations of utilizing RNAi and TALEN techniques in sugarcane improvement are discussed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chakravarthi Mohan
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Mona Easterling
- Department of Natural Sciences, Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow, OK 74014 USA
- Northeast Campus, Tulsa Community College, 3727 East Apache St, Tulsa, OK 74115 USA
| | - Yuan-Yeu Yau
- Department of Natural Sciences, Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow, OK 74014 USA
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20
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Jung C, Till B. Mutagenesis and genome editing in crop improvement: perspectives for the global regulatory landscape. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 26:1258-1269. [PMID: 34465535 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plant breeding depends on broad genetic variation. New allelic variation can be produced by targeted or random mutagenesis. Seemingly, random mutagenesis is outdated because clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas technology is much more precise and potentially faster. Unfortunately, genome editing is not accessible to breeders in many countries due to legal constraints. Therefore, random mutagenesis remains a vital method to create new allelic variation. Mutant offspring, however, suffer from a heavy mutation load, and application in polyploid crops is limited because multiple mutations are typically required. Exploiting random mutations became more efficient due to recent technological advancements, such as sequence-based mutant screening and genomic background selection. In this review, random and targeted mutagenesis will be compared, highlighting the legal situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Jung
- Plant Breeding Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, D-24098 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Bradley Till
- Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Old Davis Road, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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21
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Bellido AM, Souza Canadá ED, Permingeat HR, Echenique V. Genetic Transformation of Apomictic Grasses: Progress and Constraints. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:768393. [PMID: 34804102 PMCID: PMC8602796 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.768393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The available methods for plant transformation and expansion beyond its limits remain especially critical for crop improvement. For grass species, this is even more critical, mainly due to drawbacks in in vitro regeneration. Despite the existence of many protocols in grasses to achieve genetic transformation through Agrobacterium or biolistic gene delivery, their efficiencies are genotype-dependent and still very low due to the recalcitrance of these species to in vitro regeneration. Many plant transformation facilities for cereals and other important crops may be found around the world in universities and enterprises, but this is not the case for apomictic species, many of which are C4 grasses. Moreover, apomixis (asexual reproduction by seeds) represents an additional constraint for breeding. However, the transformation of an apomictic clone is an attractive strategy, as the transgene is immediately fixed in a highly adapted genetic background, capable of large-scale clonal propagation. With the exception of some species like Brachiaria brizantha which is planted in approximately 100 M ha in Brazil, apomixis is almost non-present in economically important crops. However, as it is sometimes present in their wild relatives, the main goal is to transfer this trait to crops to fix heterosis. Until now this has been a difficult task, mainly because many aspects of apomixis are unknown. Over the last few years, many candidate genes have been identified and attempts have been made to characterize them functionally in Arabidopsis and rice. However, functional analysis in true apomictic species lags far behind, mainly due to the complexity of its genomes, of the trait itself, and the lack of efficient genetic transformation protocols. In this study, we review the current status of the in vitro culture and genetic transformation methods focusing on apomictic grasses, and the prospects for the application of new tools assayed in other related species, with two aims: to pave the way for discovering the molecular pathways involved in apomixis and to develop new capacities for breeding purposes because many of these grasses are important forage or biofuel resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés M. Bellido
- Departamento de Agronomía, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS – CCT – CONICET Bahía Blanca), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | | | | | - Viviana Echenique
- Departamento de Agronomía, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS – CCT – CONICET Bahía Blanca), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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22
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Confalonieri M, Carelli M, Gianoglio S, Moglia A, Biazzi E, Tava A. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Targeted Mutagenesis of CYP93E2 Modulates the Triterpene Saponin Biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:690231. [PMID: 34381478 PMCID: PMC8350446 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.690231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In the Medicago genus, triterpene saponins are a group of bioactive compounds extensively studied for their different biological and pharmaceutical properties. In this work, the CRISPR/Cas9-based approach with two single-site guide RNAs was used in Medicago truncatula (barrel medic) to knock-out the CYP93E2 and CYP72A61 genes, which are responsible for the biosynthesis of soyasapogenol B, the most abundant soyasapogenol in Medicago spp. No transgenic plants carrying mutations in the target CYP72A61 gene were recovered while fifty-two putative CYP93E2 mutant plant lines were obtained following Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Among these, the fifty-one sequenced plant lines give an editing efficiency of 84%. Sequencing revealed that these lines had various mutation patterns at the target sites. Four T0 mutant plant lines were further selected and examined for their sapogenin content and plant growth performance under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that all tested CYP93E2 knock-out mutants did not produce soyasapogenols in the leaves, stems and roots, and diverted the metabolic flux toward the production of valuable hemolytic sapogenins. No adverse influence was observed on the plant morphological features of CYP93E2 mutants under greenhouse conditions. In addition, differential expression of saponin pathway genes was observed in CYP93E2 mutants in comparison to the control. Our results provide new and interesting insights into the application of CRISPR/Cas9 for metabolic engineering of high-value compounds of plant origin and will be useful to investigate the physiological functions of saponins in planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Confalonieri
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Lodi, Italy
| | - Maria Carelli
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Lodi, Italy
| | - Silvia Gianoglio
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrea Moglia
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Elisa Biazzi
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Lodi, Italy
| | - Aldo Tava
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Lodi, Italy
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23
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Miladinovic D, Antunes D, Yildirim K, Bakhsh A, Cvejić S, Kondić-Špika A, Marjanovic Jeromela A, Opsahl-Sorteberg HG, Zambounis A, Hilioti Z. Targeted plant improvement through genome editing: from laboratory to field. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2021; 40:935-951. [PMID: 33475781 PMCID: PMC8184711 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-020-02655-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This review illustrates how far we have come since the emergence of GE technologies and how they could be applied to obtain superior and sustainable crop production. The main challenges of today's agriculture are maintaining and raising productivity, reducing its negative impact on the environment, and adapting to climate change. Efficient plant breeding can generate elite varieties that will rapidly replace obsolete ones and address ongoing challenges in an efficient and sustainable manner. Site-specific genome editing in plants is a rapidly evolving field with tangible results. The technology is equipped with a powerful toolbox of molecular scissors to cut DNA at a pre-determined site with different efficiencies for designing an approach that best suits the objectives of each plant breeding strategy. Genome editing (GE) not only revolutionizes plant biology, but provides the means to solve challenges related to plant architecture, food security, nutrient content, adaptation to the environment, resistance to diseases and production of plant-based materials. This review illustrates how far we have come since the emergence of these technologies and how these technologies could be applied to obtain superior, safe and sustainable crop production. Synergies of genome editing with other technological platforms that are gaining significance in plants lead to an exciting new, post-genomic era for plant research and production. In previous months, we have seen what global changes might arise from one new virus, reminding us of what drastic effects such events could have on food production. This demonstrates how important science, technology, and tools are to meet the current time and the future. Plant GE can make a real difference to future sustainable food production to the benefit of both mankind and our environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kubilay Yildirim
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Ondokuzmayıs University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Allah Bakhsh
- Department of Agricultural Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey
| | - Sandra Cvejić
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | | | | | - Antonios Zambounis
- Department of Deciduous Fruit Trees, Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, ELGO-DEMETER, Naoussa, Greece
| | - Zoe Hilioti
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, CERTH, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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24
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Eid A, Mohan C, Sanchez S, Wang D, Altpeter F. Multiallelic, Targeted Mutagenesis of Magnesium Chelatase With CRISPR/Cas9 Provides a Rapidly Scorable Phenotype in Highly Polyploid Sugarcane. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:654996. [PMID: 34713257 PMCID: PMC8525377 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.654996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing with sequence-specific nucleases, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), is revolutionizing crop improvement. Developing efficient genome-editing protocols for highly polyploid crops, including sugarcane (x = 10-13), remains challenging due to the high level of genetic redundancy in these plants. Here, we report the efficient multiallelic editing of magnesium chelatase subunit I (MgCh) in sugarcane. Magnesium chelatase is a key enzyme for chlorophyll biosynthesis. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted co-mutagenesis of 49 copies/alleles of magnesium chelatase was confirmed via Sanger sequencing of cloned PCR amplicons. This resulted in severely reduced chlorophyll contents, which was scorable at the time of plant regeneration in the tissue culture. Heat treatment following the delivery of genome editing reagents elevated the editing frequency 2-fold and drastically promoted co-editing of multiple alleles, which proved necessary to create a phenotype that was visibly distinguishable from the wild type. Despite their yellow leaf color, the edited plants were established well in the soil and did not show noticeable growth retardation. This approach will facilitate the establishment of genome editing protocols for recalcitrant crops and support further optimization, including the evaluation of alternative RNA-guided nucleases to overcome the limitations of the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) site or to develop novel delivery strategies for genome editing reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Eid
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Chakravarthi Mohan
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sara Sanchez
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Duoduo Wang
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Fredy Altpeter
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, United States
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25
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Li C, Brant E, Budak H, Zhang B. CRISPR/Cas: a Nobel Prize award-winning precise genome editing technology for gene therapy and crop improvement. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2021; 22:253-284. [PMID: 33835761 PMCID: PMC8042526 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2100009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Since it was first recognized in bacteria and archaea as a mechanism for innate viral immunity in the early 2010s, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) has rapidly been developed into a robust, multifunctional genome editing tool with many uses. Following the discovery of the initial CRISPR/Cas-based system, the technology has been advanced to facilitate a multitude of different functions. These include development as a base editor, prime editor, epigenetic editor, and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR activator (CRISPRa) gene regulators. It can also be used for chromatin and RNA targeting and imaging. Its applications have proved revolutionary across numerous biological fields, especially in biomedical and agricultural improvement. As a diagnostic tool, CRISPR has been developed to aid the detection and screening of both human and plant diseases, and has even been applied during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. CRISPR/Cas is also being trialed as a new form of gene therapy for treating various human diseases, including cancers, and has aided drug development. In terms of agricultural breeding, precise targeting of biological pathways via CRISPR/Cas has been key to regulating molecular biosynthesis and allowing modification of proteins, starch, oil, and other functional components for crop improvement. Adding to this, CRISPR/Cas has been shown capable of significantly enhancing both plant tolerance to environmental stresses and overall crop yield via the targeting of various agronomically important gene regulators. Looking to the future, increasing the efficiency and precision of CRISPR/Cas delivery systems and limiting off-target activity are two major challenges for wider application of the technology. This review provides an in-depth overview of current CRISPR development, including the advantages and disadvantages of the technology, recent applications, and future considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory for Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Eleanor Brant
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Hikmet Budak
- Montana BioAgriculture, Inc., Missoula, MT 59802, USA.
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
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26
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Genome editing in fruit, ornamental, and industrial crops. Transgenic Res 2021; 30:499-528. [PMID: 33825100 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-021-00240-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The advent of genome editing has opened new avenues for targeted trait enhancement in fruit, ornamental, industrial, and all specialty crops. In particular, CRISPR-based editing systems, derived from bacterial immune systems, have quickly become routinely used tools for research groups across the world seeking to edit plant genomes with a greater level of precision, higher efficiency, reduced off-target effects, and overall ease-of-use compared to ZFNs and TALENs. CRISPR systems have been applied successfully to a number of horticultural and industrial crops to enhance fruit ripening, increase stress tolerance, modify plant architecture, control the timing of flower development, and enhance the accumulation of desired metabolites, among other commercially-important traits. As editing technologies continue to advance, so too does the ability to generate improved crop varieties with non-transgenic modifications; in some crops, direct transgene-free edits have already been achieved, while in others, T-DNAs have successfully been segregated out through crossing. In addition to the potential to produce non-transgenic edited crops, and thereby circumvent regulatory impediments to the release of new, improved crop varieties, targeted gene editing can speed up trait improvement in crops with long juvenile phases, reducing inputs resulting in faster market introduction to the market. While many challenges remain regarding optimization of genome editing in ornamental, fruit, and industrial crops, the ongoing discovery of novel nucleases with niche specialties for engineering applications may form the basis for additional and potentially crop-specific editing strategies.
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27
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Pramanik D, Shelake RM, Kim MJ, Kim JY. CRISPR-Mediated Engineering across the Central Dogma in Plant Biology for Basic Research and Crop Improvement. MOLECULAR PLANT 2021; 14:127-150. [PMID: 33152519 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The central dogma (CD) of molecular biology is the transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. Major CD processes governing genetic flow include the cell cycle, DNA replication, chromosome packaging, epigenetic changes, transcription, posttranscriptional alterations, translation, and posttranslational modifications. The CD processes are tightly regulated in plants to maintain genetic integrity throughout the life cycle and to pass genetic materials to next generation. Engineering of various CD processes involved in gene regulation will accelerate crop improvement to feed the growing world population. CRISPR technology enables programmable editing of CD processes to alter DNA, RNA, or protein, which would have been impossible in the past. Here, an overview of recent advancements in CRISPR tool development and CRISPR-based CD modulations that expedite basic and applied plant research is provided. Furthermore, CRISPR applications in major thriving areas of research, such as gene discovery (allele mining and cryptic gene activation), introgression (de novo domestication and haploid induction), and application of desired traits beneficial to farmers or consumers (biotic/abiotic stress-resilient crops, plant cell factories, and delayed senescence), are described. Finally, the global regulatory policies, challenges, and prospects for CRISPR-mediated crop improvement are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibyajyoti Pramanik
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
| | - Rahul Mahadev Shelake
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Mi Jung Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
| | - Jae-Yean Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea.
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28
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Eid A, Mohan C, Sanchez S, Wang D, Altpeter F. Multiallelic, Targeted Mutagenesis of Magnesium Chelatase With CRISPR/Cas9 Provides a Rapidly Scorable Phenotype in Highly Polyploid Sugarcane. Front Genome Ed 2021. [PMID: 34713257 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.65499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome editing with sequence-specific nucleases, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), is revolutionizing crop improvement. Developing efficient genome-editing protocols for highly polyploid crops, including sugarcane (x = 10-13), remains challenging due to the high level of genetic redundancy in these plants. Here, we report the efficient multiallelic editing of magnesium chelatase subunit I (MgCh) in sugarcane. Magnesium chelatase is a key enzyme for chlorophyll biosynthesis. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted co-mutagenesis of 49 copies/alleles of magnesium chelatase was confirmed via Sanger sequencing of cloned PCR amplicons. This resulted in severely reduced chlorophyll contents, which was scorable at the time of plant regeneration in the tissue culture. Heat treatment following the delivery of genome editing reagents elevated the editing frequency 2-fold and drastically promoted co-editing of multiple alleles, which proved necessary to create a phenotype that was visibly distinguishable from the wild type. Despite their yellow leaf color, the edited plants were established well in the soil and did not show noticeable growth retardation. This approach will facilitate the establishment of genome editing protocols for recalcitrant crops and support further optimization, including the evaluation of alternative RNA-guided nucleases to overcome the limitations of the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) site or to develop novel delivery strategies for genome editing reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Eid
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Chakravarthi Mohan
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sara Sanchez
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Duoduo Wang
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Fredy Altpeter
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Energy Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, United States
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29
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Xu N, Kang M, Zobrist JD, Wang K, Fei SZ. Genetic Transformation of Recalcitrant Upland Switchgrass Using Morphogenic Genes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:781565. [PMID: 35211127 PMCID: PMC8861204 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.781565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is an excellent feedstock for biofuel production. While genetic transformation is routinely done in lowland switchgrass, upland cultivars remain recalcitrant to genetic transformation. Here we report the establishment of an efficient and reproducible transformation protocol for two upland cultivars, 'Summer' and 'Blackwell', by ectopic overexpression of morphogenic genes, Baby boom (Bbm) and Wuschel2 (Wus2). Two auxotrophic Agrobacterium strains, LBA4404Thy- and EHA105Thy-, each harboring the same construct containing ZmBbm, ZmWus2, and a green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene, ZsGreen1, were used to infect immature leaf segments derived from in vitro grown seedlings. The Agrobacterium strains also contain a transformation helper plasmid that carry additional copies of Agrobacterium virulence genes. GFP-expressing calli were identified and selected for regeneration. The highest transformation efficiency of 6% was obtained for the tetraploid cultivar Summer when LBA4404Thy- was used for infection, which is twice of that for the octoploid cultivar Blackwell. LBA4404Thy- consistently outperformed EHA105Thy- on transformation frequency across the two cultivars. Fifteen randomly selected putative transgenic plants of Summer and Blackwell, representing independent callus events, were confirmed as transgenic by the presence of the transgene, ZmAls, and the absence of AtuFtsZ, a chromosomal gene specific to the Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 using polymerase chain reaction. Transgene integration and expression was further confirmed by the detection of GFP in roots, and the resistance to herbicide injury to leaves of selected putative transgenic plants. The ZmBbm and ZmWus2 genes were successfully removed from 40 to 33.3% of the transgenic plants of Summer and Blackwell, respectively, via the Cre-Lox recombination system upon heat treatment of GFP-expressing embryogenic calli. Our successful transformation of recalcitrant upland switchgrass provides a method for gene function analysis and germplasm enhancement via biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuoya Xu
- Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Crop Bioengineering Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Plant Biology Major, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Minjeong Kang
- Crop Bioengineering Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Plant Biology Major, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Jacob D. Zobrist
- Crop Bioengineering Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Genetics and Genomics Major, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Kan Wang
- Crop Bioengineering Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Shui-zhang Fei
- Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Crop Bioengineering Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Shui-zhang Fei,
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30
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Liu Y, Wang W, Yang B, Currey C, Fei SZ. Functional Analysis of the teosinte branched 1 Gene in the Tetraploid Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) by CRISPR/Cas9-Directed Mutagenesis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:572193. [PMID: 33101338 PMCID: PMC7546813 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.572193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Tillering is an important biomass yield component trait in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Teosinte branched 1 (tb1)/Branched 1 (BRC1) gene is a known regulator for tillering/branching in several plant species; however, its role on tillering in switchgrass remains unknown. Here, we report physiological and molecular characterization of mutants created by CRISPR/Cas9. We successfully obtained nonchimeric Pvtb1a and Pvtb1b mutants from chimeric T0 mutants using nodal culture. The biallelic Pvtb1a-Pvtb1b mutant plants produced significantly more tillers and higher fresh weight biomass than the wild-type plants. The increased tiller number in the mutant plants resulted primarily from hastened outgrowth of lower axillary buds. Increased tillers were also observed in transgene-free BC1 monoallelic mutants for either Pvtb1a-Pvtb1b or Pvtb1b gene alone, suggesting Pvtb1 genes act in a dosage-dependent manner. Transcriptome analysis showed 831 genes were differentially expressed in the Pvtb1a-Pvtb1b double knockdown mutant. Gene Ontology analysis revealed downregulation of Pvtb1 genes affected multiple biological processes, including transcription, flower development, cell differentiation, and stress/defense responses in edited plants. This study demonstrates that Pvtb1 genes play a pivotal role in tiller production as a negative regulator in switchgrass and provides opportunities for further research aiming to elucidate the molecular pathway regulating tillering in switchgrass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Interdepartmental Program in Plant Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Weiling Wang
- Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Innovation Center of Rice Cultivation Technology in Yangtze River Valley, Ministry of Agriculture/Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Bing Yang
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Christopher Currey
- Interdepartmental Program in Plant Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Shui-zhang Fei
- Interdepartmental Program in Plant Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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31
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Dixon LE, Pasquariello M, Boden SA. TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 regulates height and stem internode length in bread wheat. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:4742-4750. [PMID: 32449515 PMCID: PMC7410180 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of plant height and stem elongation has contributed significantly to improvement of cereal productivity by reducing lodging and improving distribution of assimilates to the inflorescence and grain. In wheat, genetic control of height has been largely contributed by the Reduced height-1 alleles that confer gibberellin insensitivity; the beneficial effects of these alleles are associated with less favourable effects involving seedling emergence, grain quality, and inflorescence architecture that have driven new research investigating genetic variation of stem growth. Here, we show that TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 (TB1) regulates height of wheat, with TB1 being expressed at low levels in nodes of the main culm prior to elongation, and increased dosage of TB1 restricting elongation of stem internodes. The effect of TB1 on stem growth is not accompanied by poor seedling emergence, as transgenic lines with increased activity of TB1 form longer coleoptiles than null transgenic controls. Analysis of height in a multiparent mapping population also showed that allelic variation for TB1 on the B genome influences height, with plants containing the variant TB-B1b allele being taller than those with the wild-type TB-B1a allele. Our results show that TB1 restricts height and stem elongation in wheat, suggesting that variant alleles that alter the expression or function of TB1 could be used as a new source of genetic diversity for optimizing architecture of wheat in breeding programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Dixon
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, UK
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Scott A Boden
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, UK
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, Waite Research Precinct, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
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32
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Yang JF, Chen MX, Zhang JH, Hao GF, Yang GF. Genome-wide phylogenetic and structural analysis reveals the molecular evolution of the ABA receptor gene family. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:1322-1336. [PMID: 31740933 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role during the plant life cycle as well as in adaptive responses to environmental stresses. The core regulatory components of ABA signaling in plants are the pyrabactin resistance1/PYR1-like/regulatory component of ABA receptor family (PYLs), which comprise the largest plant hormone receptor family known. They act as negative regulators of members of the protein phosphatase type 2C family. Due to the biological importance of PYLs, many researchers have focused on their genetic redundancy and consequent functional divergence. However, little is understood of their evolution and its impact on the generation of regulatory diversity. In this study, we identify positive selection and functional divergence in PYLs through phylogenetic reconstruction, gene structure and expression pattern analysis, positive selection analysis, functional divergence analysis, and structure comparison. We found the correlation of desensitization of PYLs under specific modifications in the molecular recognition domain with functional diversification. Hence, an interesting antagonistic co-evolutionary mechanism is proposed for the functional diversification of ABA receptor family proteins. We believe a compensatory evolutionary pathway may have occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Fang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P.R. China
- International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Mo-Xian Chen
- Shenzhen Research Institute, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Hua Zhang
- Shenzhen Research Institute, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, P. R. China
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Ge-Fei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P.R. China
- International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - Guang-Fu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P.R. China
- International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, P. R. China
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33
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Ouyang L, Ma M, Li L. An efficient transgene-free DNA-editing system for Arabidopsis using a fluorescent marker. Biotechnol Lett 2020; 42:313-318. [PMID: 31797132 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-019-02778-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To obtain transgene-free progeny by constructing a DNA editing system with a fluorescent screening marker gene and two pairs of single-guide RNAs to simultaneously recognize two different sites in the target gene encoding Arabidopsis microRNA(miR)160A RESULTS: The T1 seeds with red fluorescence were easily identified and were selected to verify that the proportion of miR160A knockout mutants reached approximately 50%. Seeds with no fluorescence in the T2 generation were selected and screened for homozygous mutants. In the T2 generation plants, the Cas9 fragment was not detected by polymerase chain reaction. The traits of the homozygous mutants were stably inherited by the T2 population. CONCLUSIONS A highly efficient DNA-editing construct was successfully developed and can be used as a plant genome site-specific editing tool that may be useful for improving plant genetic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lejun Ouyang
- College of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, No. 129, Guangdu Road, Maoming, 525000, Guangdong, China.
| | - Mingsai Ma
- College of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, No. 129, Guangdu Road, Maoming, 525000, Guangdong, China
| | - Limei Li
- College of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, No. 129, Guangdu Road, Maoming, 525000, Guangdong, China
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34
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Char SN, Yang B. Genome editing in grass plants. ABIOTECH 2020; 1:41-57. [PMID: 36305004 PMCID: PMC9590508 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-019-00005-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cereal crops including maize, rice, wheat, sorghum, barley, millet, oats and rye are the major calorie sources in our daily life and also important bioenergy sources of the world. The rapidly advancing and state-of-the-art genome-editing tools such as zinc finger nucleases, TAL effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated systems (CRISPR-Cas9-, CRISPR-Cas12a- and CRISPR/Cas-derived base editors) have accelerated the functional genomics and have promising potential for precision breeding of grass crops. With the availability of annotated genomes of the major cereal crops, application of these established genome-editing toolkits to grass plants holds promise to increase the nutritional value and productivity. Furthermore, these easy-to-use and robust genome-editing toolkits have advanced the reverse genetics for discovery of novel gene functions in crop plants. In this review, we document some of important progress in development and utilization of genome-editing tool sets in grass plants. We also highlight present and future uses of genome-editing toolkits that can sustain and improve the quality of cereal grain for food consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Nian Char
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Bing Yang
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132 USA
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Shan S, Soltis PS, Soltis DE, Yang B. Considerations in adapting CRISPR/Cas9 in nongenetic model plant systems. APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES 2020; 8:e11314. [PMID: 31993256 PMCID: PMC6976890 DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The past six years have seen the rapid growth of studies of CRISPR/Cas9 in plant genome editing, a method that enormously facilitates both basic research and practical applications. Most studies have focused on genetic model species, but plant species that are not genetic models may also be economically important or biologically significant, or both. However, developing the CRISPR/Cas9 system in a nongenetic model is challenging. Here, we summarize CRISPR/Cas9 applications in 45 plant genera across 24 families and provide a reference for practical application of CRISPR in nongenetic model plant systems. Suggestions for selecting plant species and target genes are given for proof-of-principle CRISPR studies, and the processes of vector construction are reviewed. We recommend using transient assays to identify a desired CRISPR/Cas9 system in a nongenetic model. We then review methods of plant transformation and describe approaches, using regenerated transgenic plants, for evaluating CRISPR editing results. Lastly, potential future applications of CRISPR in nongenetic model plant species are discussed. This review provides a road map for developing CRISPR in nongenetic models, an application that holds enormous potential in plant biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengchen Shan
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology ProgramUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐0180USA
- Florida Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐7800USA
| | - Pamela S. Soltis
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology ProgramUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐0180USA
- Florida Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐7800USA
- Biodiversity InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐5585USA
- Genetics InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32610USA
| | - Douglas E. Soltis
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology ProgramUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐0180USA
- Florida Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐7800USA
- Biodiversity InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐5585USA
- Genetics InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32610USA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida32611‐8525USA
| | - Bing Yang
- Division of Plant SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouri65211USA
- Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSt. LouisMissouri63132USA
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Miroshnichenko DN, Shulga OA, Timerbaev VR, Dolgov SV. Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects in the Production of Nontransgenic, Genome-Edited Plants. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683819090047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Zhang Y, Malzahn AA, Sretenovic S, Qi Y. The emerging and uncultivated potential of CRISPR technology in plant science. NATURE PLANTS 2019; 5:778-794. [PMID: 31308503 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-019-0461-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The application of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) for genetic manipulation has revolutionized life science over the past few years. CRISPR was first discovered as an adaptive immune system in bacteria and archaea, and then engineered to generate targeted DNA breaks in living cells and organisms. During the cellular DNA repair process, various DNA changes can be introduced. The diverse and expanding CRISPR toolbox allows programmable genome editing, epigenome editing and transcriptome regulation in plants. However, challenges in plant genome editing need to be fully appreciated and solutions explored. This Review intends to provide an informative summary of the latest developments and breakthroughs of CRISPR technology, with a focus on achievements and potential utility in plant biology. Ultimately, CRISPR will not only facilitate basic research, but also accelerate plant breeding and germplasm development. The application of CRISPR to improve germplasm is particularly important in the context of global climate change as well as in the face of current agricultural, environmental and ecological challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxiao Zhang
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Aimee A Malzahn
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Simon Sretenovic
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - 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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Xiong X, Liu W, Jiang J, Xu L, Huang L, Cao J. Efficient genome editing of Brassica campestris based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Mol Genet Genomics 2019; 294:1251-1261. [PMID: 31129735 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-019-01564-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Conventional methods for gene function study in Brassica campestris have lots of drawbacks, which greatly hinder the identification of important genes' functions and molecular breeding. The clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system is a versatile tool for genome editing that has been widely utilized in many plant species and has many advantages over conventional methods for gene function study. However, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 system in B. campestris remains unreported. The pectin-methylesterase genes Bra003491, Bra007665, and Bra014410 were selected as the targets of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. A single-targeting vector and a multitargeting vector were constructed. Different types of mutations were detected in T0 generation through Agrobacterium transformation. The mutation rate of the three designed sgRNA seeds varied from 20 to 56%. Although the majority of T0 mutants were chimeric, four homozygous mutants were identified. Transformation with the multitargeting vector generated one line with a large fragment deletion and one line with mutations in two target genes. Mutations in Bra003491 were stable and inherited by T1 and T2 generations. Nine mutants which did not contain T-DNA insertions were also obtained. No mutations were detected in predicted potential off-target sites. Our work demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9 system is efficient on single and multiplex genome editing without off-targeting in B. campestris and that the mutations are stable and inheritable. Our results may greatly facilitate gene functional studies and the molecular breeding of B. campestris and other plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingpeng Xiong
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Weimiao Liu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jianxia Jiang
- Crop Breeding and Cultivation Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201403, China
| | - Liai Xu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Li Huang
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiashu Cao
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. .,Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, 310058, China. .,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Korotkova AM, Gerasimova SV, Khlestkina EK. Current achievements in modifying crop genes using CRISPR/Cas system. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2019. [DOI: 10.18699/vj19.458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of the new genome editing tool of target-specifically customizable endonucleases, a huge variety of novel opportunities have become feasible. The crop improvement is one of the main applications of genome editing in plant science and plant biotechnology. The amount of publications referring to genome editing and CRISPR/Cas system based molecular tools application in crops is permanently growing. The aim of this study is the systematization and cataloging of these data. Earlier we published the first catalog of targeted crop genome modifications as of February 10, 2017. The current review is an update of the catalog; it covers research papers on crop genome modifications from February 10, 2017 to August 17, 2018, found by searching 47 crop names in the Scopus database. Over one year and a half, 377 articles mentioning CRISPR/Cas and crop names have been published, of which 131 articles describe an experimental application of this tool for editing 193 genes in 19 crops, including rice with the largest number of genes modified (109 genes). Editing 50 of 193 genes was aimed at crop improvement. The catalog presented here includes these 50 genes, specifying the cultivars, each gene and gene product function, modification type and delivery method used. The current full list of genes modified with CRISPR/Cas with the aim of crop improvement is 81 in 16 crops (for 5 years from August 2013 to August 2018). In this paper, we also summarize data on different modifications types in different crops and provide a brief review of some novel methods and approaches that have appeared in crop genome editing research over the reviewed period. Taken together, these data provide a clear view on current progress in crop genome modifications and traits improvement using CRISPR/Cas based genome editing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S. V. Gerasimova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS; Novosibirsk State University
| | - E. K. Khlestkina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS; Novosibirsk State University; N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR)
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Clifton‐Brown J, Harfouche A, Casler MD, Dylan Jones H, Macalpine WJ, Murphy‐Bokern D, Smart LB, Adler A, Ashman C, Awty‐Carroll D, Bastien C, Bopper S, Botnari V, Brancourt‐Hulmel M, Chen Z, Clark LV, Cosentino S, Dalton S, Davey C, Dolstra O, Donnison I, Flavell R, Greef J, Hanley S, Hastings A, Hertzberg M, Hsu T, Huang LS, Iurato A, Jensen E, Jin X, Jørgensen U, Kiesel A, Kim D, Liu J, McCalmont JP, McMahon BG, Mos M, Robson P, Sacks EJ, Sandu A, Scalici G, Schwarz K, Scordia D, Shafiei R, Shield I, Slavov G, Stanton BJ, Swaminathan K, Taylor G, Torres AF, Trindade LM, Tschaplinski T, Tuskan GA, Yamada T, Yeon Yu C, Zalesny RS, Zong J, Lewandowski I. Breeding progress and preparedness for mass-scale deployment of perennial lignocellulosic biomass crops switchgrass, miscanthus, willow and poplar. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY. BIOENERGY 2019; 11:118-151. [PMID: 30854028 PMCID: PMC6392185 DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetic improvement through breeding is one of the key approaches to increasing biomass supply. This paper documents the breeding progress to date for four perennial biomass crops (PBCs) that have high output-input energy ratios: namely Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), species of the genera Miscanthus (miscanthus), Salix (willow) and Populus (poplar). For each crop, we report on the size of germplasm collections, the efforts to date to phenotype and genotype, the diversity available for breeding and on the scale of breeding work as indicated by number of attempted crosses. We also report on the development of faster and more precise breeding using molecular breeding techniques. Poplar is the model tree for genetic studies and is furthest ahead in terms of biological knowledge and genetic resources. Linkage maps, transgenesis and genome editing methods are now being used in commercially focused poplar breeding. These are in development in switchgrass, miscanthus and willow generating large genetic and phenotypic data sets requiring concomitant efforts in informatics to create summaries that can be accessed and used by practical breeders. Cultivars of switchgrass and miscanthus can be seed-based synthetic populations, semihybrids or clones. Willow and poplar cultivars are commercially deployed as clones. At local and regional level, the most advanced cultivars in each crop are at technology readiness levels which could be scaled to planting rates of thousands of hectares per year in about 5 years with existing commercial developers. Investment in further development of better cultivars is subject to current market failure and the long breeding cycles. We conclude that sustained public investment in breeding plays a key role in delivering future mass-scale deployment of PBCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Clifton‐Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Antoine Harfouche
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forest systemsUniversity of TusciaViterboItaly
| | | | - Huw Dylan Jones
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | | | | | - Lawrence B. Smart
- Horticulture Section, School of Integrative Plant ScienceCornell UniversityGenevaNew York
| | - Anneli Adler
- SweTree Technologies ABUmeåSweden
- Institute of Crop Production EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Chris Ashman
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Danny Awty‐Carroll
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | | | - Sebastian Bopper
- Department of Seed Science and Technology, Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population GeneticsUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Vasile Botnari
- Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection (IGFPP) of Academy of Sciences of MoldovaChisinauMoldova
| | | | - Zhiyong Chen
- Insitute of MiscanthusHunan Agricultural UniversityHunan ChangshaChina
| | - Lindsay V. Clark
- Department of Crop Sciences & Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, 279 Edward R Madigan LaboratoryUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaIllinois
| | - Salvatore Cosentino
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura Alimentazione e AmbienteUniversità degli Studi di CataniaCataniaItaly
| | - Sue Dalton
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Chris Davey
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Oene Dolstra
- Plant BreedingWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Iain Donnison
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | | | - Joerg Greef
- Julius Kuhn‐Institut (JKI)Bundesforschungsinstitut fur KulturpflanzenBraunschweigGermany
| | | | - Astley Hastings
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenUK
| | | | - Tsai‐Wen Hsu
- Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute (TESRI)Nantou CountyTaiwan
| | - Lin S. Huang
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Antonella Iurato
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Elaine Jensen
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Xiaoli Jin
- Department of Agronomy & The Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resource of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Uffe Jørgensen
- Department of AgroecologyAarhus University Centre for Circular BioeconomyTjeleDenmark
| | - Andreas Kiesel
- Department of Biobased Products and Energy Crops, Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Do‐Soon Kim
- Department of Plant Sciences, Research Institute of Agriculture & Life Sciences, CALSSeoul National UniversitySeoulKorea
| | - Jianxiu Liu
- Institute of BotanyJiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Jon P. McCalmont
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Bernard G. McMahon
- Natural Resources Research InstituteUniversity of Minnesota – DuluthDuluthMinnesota
| | | | - Paul Robson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Erik J. Sacks
- Department of Crop Sciences & Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, 279 Edward R Madigan LaboratoryUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaIllinois
| | - Anatolii Sandu
- Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection (IGFPP) of Academy of Sciences of MoldovaChisinauMoldova
| | - Giovanni Scalici
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura Alimentazione e AmbienteUniversità degli Studi di CataniaCataniaItaly
| | - Kai Schwarz
- Julius Kuhn‐Institut (JKI)Bundesforschungsinstitut fur KulturpflanzenBraunschweigGermany
| | - Danilo Scordia
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura Alimentazione e AmbienteUniversità degli Studi di CataniaCataniaItaly
| | - Reza Shafiei
- James Hutton InstituteUniversity of DundeeDundeeUK
| | | | | | | | | | - Gail Taylor
- Biological SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Andres F. Torres
- Plant BreedingWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Luisa M. Trindade
- Plant BreedingWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Timothy Tschaplinski
- The Center for Bioenergy InnovationOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTennessee
| | - Gerald A. Tuskan
- The Center for Bioenergy InnovationOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTennessee
| | - Toshihiko Yamada
- Field Science Centre for the Northern BiosphereHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Chang Yeon Yu
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 2Kangwon National UniversityChuncheonSouth Korea
| | | | - Junqin Zong
- Institute of BotanyJiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Iris Lewandowski
- Department of Biobased Products and Energy Crops, Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
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Zhang K, Nie L, Cheng Q, Yin Y, Chen K, Qi F, Zou D, Liu H, Zhao W, Wang B, Li M. Effective editing for lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 2/5 in allotetraploid rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.) using CRISPR-Cas9 system. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:225. [PMID: 31548867 PMCID: PMC6753616 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1567-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brassica napus is one of the most important oilseed crops, and can supply considerable amounts of edible oil as well as provide raw materials for the production of biodiesel in the biotechnology industry. Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT), a key enzyme in the Kennedy pathway, catalyses fatty acid chains into 3-phosphoglycerate and promotes further production of oil in the form of triacylglycerol. However, because B. napus is an allotetraploid with two subgenomes, the precise genes which involved in oil production remain unclear due to the intractability of efficiently knocking out all copies with high genetic redundancy. Therefore, a robust gene editing technology is necessary for gene function analysis. RESULTS An efficient gene editing technology was developed for the allotetraploid plant B. napus using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Previous studies showed poor results in either on-target or off-target activity in B. napus. In the present study, four single-gRNAs and two multi-gRNAs were deliberately designed from the conserved coding regions of BnLPAT2 which has seven homologous genes, and BnLPAT5, which has four homologous genes. The mutation frequency was found to range from 17 to 68%, while no mutation was observed in the putative off-target sites. The seeds of the Bnlpat2/Bnlpat5 mutant were wizened and showed enlarged oil bodies, disrupted distribution of protein bodies and increased accumulation of starch in mature seeds. The oil content decreased, with an average decrease of 32% for Bnlpat2 lines and 29% for Bnlpat5 lines in single-gRNA knockout lines, and a decline of 24% for Bnlpat2 mutant lines (i.e., g123) and 39% for Bnlpat2/Bnlpat5 double mutant lines (i.e., g134) in multi-gRNA knockout lines. CONCLUSIONS Seven BnLPAT2 homologous genes and four BnLPAT5 homologous genes were cleaved completely using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, which indicated that it is effective for editing all homologous genes in allotetraploid rapeseed, despite the relatively low sequence identities of both gene families. The size of the oil bodies increased significantly while the oil content decreased, confirming that BnLPAT2 and BnLPAT5 play a role in oil biosynthesis. The present study lays a foundation for further oil production improvement in oilseed crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Characteristic Resources Exploitation of Dabie Mountains, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, China
| | - Liluo Nie
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiqi Cheng
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongtai Yin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fuyu Qi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dashan Zou
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haohao Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weiguo Zhao
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Baoshan Wang
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250000 China
| | - Maoteng Li
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Characteristic Resources Exploitation of Dabie Mountains, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, China
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Ondzighi-Assoume CA, Willis JD, Ouma WK, Allen SM, King Z, Parrott WA, Liu W, Burris JN, Lenaghan SC, Stewart CN. Embryogenic cell suspensions for high-capacity genetic transformation and regeneration of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.). BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:290. [PMID: 31890018 PMCID: PMC6913013 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1632-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a North American prairie grassland species, is a potential lignocellulosic biofuel feedstock owing to its wide adaptability and biomass production. Production and genetic manipulation of switchgrass should be useful to improve its biomass composition and production for bioenergy applications. The goal of this project was to develop a high-throughput stable switchgrass transformation method using Agrobacterium tumefaciens with subsequent plant regeneration. RESULTS Regenerable embryogenic cell suspension cultures were established from friable type II callus-derived inflorescences using two genotypes selected from the synthetic switchgrass variety 'Performer' tissue culture lines 32 and 605. The cell suspension cultures were composed of a heterogeneous fine mixture culture of single cells and aggregates. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 was optimum to transfer into cells the pANIC-10A vector with a hygromycin-selectable marker gene and a pporRFP orange fluorescent protein marker gene at an 85% transformation efficiency. Liquid cultures gave rise to embryogenic callus and then shoots, of which up to 94% formed roots. The resulting transgenic plants were phenotypically indistinguishable from the non-transgenic parent lines. CONCLUSION The new cell suspension-based protocol enables high-throughput Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration of switchgrass in which plants are recovered within 6-7 months from culture establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Ondzighi-Assoume
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209 USA
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Jonathan D. Willis
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Wilson K. Ouma
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209 USA
| | - Sara M. Allen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Zachary King
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics& Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7272 USA
| | - Wayne A. Parrott
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics& Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7272 USA
| | - Wusheng Liu
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607 USA
| | - Jason N. Burris
- Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Scott C. Lenaghan
- Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - C. Neal Stewart
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
- Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
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Shan S, Mavrodiev EV, Li R, Zhang Z, Hauser BA, Soltis PS, Soltis DE, Yang B. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 to Tragopogon (Asteraceae), an evolutionary model for the study of polyploidy. Mol Ecol Resour 2018; 18:1427-1443. [PMID: 30086204 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Tragopogon (Asteraceae) is an excellent natural system for studies of recent polyploidy. Development of an efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing platform in Tragopogon will facilitate novel studies of the genetic consequences of polyploidy. Here, we report our initial results of developing CRISPR/Cas9 in Tragopogon. We have established a feasible tissue culture and transformation protocol for Tragopogon. Through protoplast transient assays, use of the TragCRISPR system (i.e. the CRISPR/Cas9 system adapted for Tragopogon) was capable of introducing site-specific mutations in Tragopogon protoplasts. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with Cas9-sgRNA constructs targeting the phytoene desaturase gene (TraPDS) was implemented in this model polyploid system. Sequencing of PCR amplicons from the target regions indicated simultaneous mutations of two alleles and four alleles of TraPDS in albino shoots from Tragopogon porrifolius (2x) and Tragopogon mirus (4x), respectively. The average proportions of successfully transformed calli with the albino phenotype were 87% and 78% in the diploid and polyploid, respectively. This appears to be the first demonstration of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in any naturally formed neopolyploid system. Although a more efficient tissue culture system should be developed in Tragopogon, application of a robust CRISPR/Cas9 system will permit unique studies of biased fractionation, the gene-balance hypothesis and cytonuclear interactions in polyploids. In addition, the CRISPR/Cas9 platform enables investigations of those genes involved in phenotypic changes in polyploids and will also facilitate novel functional biology studies in Asteraceae. Our workflow provides a guide for applying CRISPR/Cas9 to other nongenetic model plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengchen Shan
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.,Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Evgeny V Mavrodiev
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Riqing Li
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Zhengzhi Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Bernard A Hauser
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Pamela S Soltis
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Biodiversity Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Douglas E Soltis
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Biodiversity Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
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Liu W, Mazarei M, Ye R, Peng Y, Shao Y, Baxter HL, Sykes RW, Turner GB, Davis MF, Wang ZY, Dixon RA, Stewart CN. Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) promoters for green tissue-specific expression of the MYB4 transcription factor for reduced-recalcitrance transgenic switchgrass. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:122. [PMID: 29713381 PMCID: PMC5914048 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1119-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic engineering of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for reduced cell wall recalcitrance and improved biofuel production has been a long pursued goal. Up to now, constitutive promoters have been used to direct the expression of cell wall biosynthesis genes toward attaining that goal. While generally sufficient to gauge a transgene's effects in the heterologous host, constitutive overexpression often leads to undesirable plant phenotypic effects. Green tissue-specific promoters from switchgrass are potentially valuable to directly alter cell wall traits exclusively in harvestable aboveground biomass while not changing root phenotypes. RESULTS We identified and functionally characterized three switchgrass green tissue-specific promoters and assessed marker gene expression patterns and intensity in stably transformed rice (Oryza sativa L.), and then used them to direct the expression of the switchgrass MYB4 (PvMYB4) transcription factor gene in transgenic switchgrass to endow reduced recalcitrance in aboveground biomass. These promoters correspond to photosynthesis-related light-harvesting complex II chlorophyll-a/b binding gene (PvLhcb), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PvPEPC), and the photosystem II 10 kDa R subunit (PvPsbR). Real-time RT-PCR analysis detected their strong expression in the aboveground tissues including leaf blades, leaf sheaths, internodes, inflorescences, and nodes of switchgrass, which was tightly up-regulated by light. Stable transgenic rice expressing the GUS reporter under the control of each promoter (756-2005 bp in length) further confirmed their strong expression patterns in leaves and stems. With the exception of the serial promoter deletions of PvLhcb, all GUS marker patterns under the control of each 5'-end serial promoter deletion were not different from that conveyed by their respective promoters. All of the shortest promoter fragments (199-275 bp in length) conveyed strong green tissue-specific GUS expression in transgenic rice. PvMYB4 is a master repressor of lignin biosynthesis. The green tissue-specific expression of PvMYB4 via each promoter in transgenic switchgrass led to significant gains in saccharification efficiency, decreased lignin, and decreased S/G lignin ratios. In contrast to constitutive overexpression of PvMYB4, which negatively impacts switchgrass root growth, plant growth was not compromised in green tissue-expressed PvMYB4 switchgrass plants in the current study. CONCLUSIONS Each of the newly described green tissue-specific promoters from switchgrass has utility to change cell wall biosynthesis exclusively in aboveground harvestable biomass without altering root systems. The truncated green tissue promoters are very short and should be useful for targeted expression in a number of monocots to improve shoot traits while restricting gene expression from roots. Green tissue-specific expression of PvMYB4 is an effective strategy for improvement of transgenic feedstocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wusheng Liu
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Mitra Mazarei
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
| | - Rongjian Ye
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
| | - Yanhui Peng
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
| | - Yuanhua Shao
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
| | - Holly L. Baxter
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
| | - Robert W. Sykes
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
| | - Geoffrey B. Turner
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
| | - Mark F. Davis
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
| | - Zeng-Yu Wang
- Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
| | - Richard A. Dixon
- BioDiscovery Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
| | - C. Neal Stewart
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
- BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN USA
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Kandel R, Yang X, Song J, Wang J. Potentials, Challenges, and Genetic and Genomic Resources for Sugarcane Biomass Improvement. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:151. [PMID: 29503654 PMCID: PMC5821101 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass has become an emerging feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids), a very efficient perennial C4 plant with a high polyploid level and complex genome, is considered a top-notch candidate for biomass production due to its salient features viz. fast growth rate and abilities for high tillering, ratooning, and photosynthesis. Energy cane, an ideal type of sugarcane, has been bred specifically as a biomass crop. In this review, we described (1) biomass potentials of sugarcane and its underlying genetics, (2) challenges associated with biomass improvement such as large and complex genome, narrow gene pool in existing commercial cultivars, long breeding cycle, and non-synchronous flowering, (3) available genetic resources such as germplasm resources, and genomic and cell wall-related databases that facilitate biomass improvement, and (4) mining candidate genes controlling biomass in genomic databases. We extensively reviewed databases for biomass-related genes and their usefulness in biofuel generation. This review provides valuable resources for sugarcane breeders, geneticists, and broad scientific communities involved in bioenergy production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramkrishna Kandel
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Xiping Yang
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jian Song
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- College of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Jianping Wang
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- FAFU and UIUC-SIB Joint Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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de Vries L, Vanholme R, Van Acker R, De Meester B, Sundin L, Boerjan W. Stacking of a low-lignin trait with an increased guaiacyl and 5-hydroxyguaiacyl unit trait leads to additive and synergistic effects on saccharification efficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:257. [PMID: 30250509 PMCID: PMC6146604 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lignocellulosic biomass, such as wood and straw, is an interesting feedstock for the production of fermentable sugars. However, mainly due to the presence of lignin, this type of biomass is recalcitrant to saccharification. In Arabidopsis, lignocellulosic biomass with a lower lignin content or with lignin with an increased fraction of guaiacyl (G) and 5-hydroxyguaiacyl (5H) units shows an increased saccharification efficiency. Here, we stacked these two traits and studied the effect on the saccharification efficiency and biomass yield, by combining either transaldolase (tra2), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (c4h-3), or 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4cl1-1) with caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (comt-1 or comt-4) mutants. RESULTS The three double mutants (tra2 comt-1, c4h-3 comt-4, and 4cl1-1 comt-4) had a decreased lignin amount and an increase in G and 5H units in the lignin polymer compared to wild-type (WT) plants. The tra2 comt-1 double mutant had a better saccharification efficiency compared to the parental lines when an acid or alkaline pretreatment was used. For the double mutants, c4h-3 comt-4 and 4cl1-1 comt-4, the saccharification efficiency was significantly higher compared to WT and its parental lines, independent of the pretreatment used. When no pretreatment was used, the saccharification efficiency increased even synergistically for these mutants. CONCLUSION Our results show that saccharification efficiency can be improved by combining two different mutant lignin traits, leading to plants with an even higher saccharification efficiency, without having a yield reduction of the primary inflorescence stem. This approach can help improve saccharification efficiency in bio-energy crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne de Vries
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ruben Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Van Acker
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Meester
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lisa Sundin
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
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Lin CY, Donohoe BS, Ahuja N, Garrity DM, Qu R, Tucker MP, Himmel ME, Wei H. Evaluation of parameters affecting switchgrass tissue culture: toward a consolidated procedure for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum). PLANT METHODS 2017; 13:113. [PMID: 29270209 PMCID: PMC5735814 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-017-0263-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a robust perennial C4-type grass, has been evaluated and designated as a model bioenergy crop by the U.S. DOE and USDA. Conventional breeding of switchgrass biomass is difficult because it displays self-incompatible hindrance. Therefore, direct genetic modifications of switchgrass have been considered the more effective approach to tailor switchgrass with traits of interest. Successful transformations have demonstrated increased biomass yields, reduction in the recalcitrance of cell walls and enhanced saccharification efficiency. Several tissue culture protocols have been previously described to produce transgenic switchgrass lines using different nutrient-based media, co-cultivation approaches, and antibiotic strengths for selection. RESULTS After evaluating the published protocols, we consolidated these approaches and optimized the process to develop a more efficient protocol for producing transgenic switchgrass. First, seed sterilization was optimized, which led to a 20% increase in yield of induced calluses. Second, we have selected a N6 macronutrient/B5 micronutrient (NB)-based medium for callus induction from mature seeds of the Alamo cultivar, and chose a Murashige and Skoog-based medium to regenerate both Type I and Type II calluses. Third, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was adopted that resulted in 50-100% positive regenerated transformants after three rounds (2 weeks/round) of selection with antibiotic. Genomic DNA PCR, RT-PCR, Southern blot, visualization of the red fluorescent protein and histochemical β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining were conducted to confirm the positive switchgrass transformants. The optimized methods developed here provide an improved strategy to promote the production and selection of callus and generation of transgenic switchgrass lines. CONCLUSION The process for switchgrass transformation has been evaluated and consolidated to devise an improved approach for transgenic switchgrass production. With the optimization of seed sterilization, callus induction, and regeneration steps, a reliable and effective protocol is established to facilitate switchgrass engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Yuan Lin
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Bryon S. Donohoe
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Neha Ahuja
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA
| | - Deborah M. Garrity
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA
| | - Rongda Qu
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7287 USA
| | - Melvin P. Tucker
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO USA
| | - Michael E. Himmel
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Hui Wei
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
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