For the first time, scientists have demonstrated high efficiency multiplex gene editing in plants.

Asian Scientist Newsroom | April 28, 2017 | In the Lab

AsianScientist (Apr. 28, 2017) - Using Cpf1 instead of the more familiar Cas9, researchers from China have developed an easier way to edit multiple genes with CRISPR technology, demonstrating their method in rice. Their findings have been published in Molecular Plant.

Multiplex gene editing provides a powerful tool for targeting members of multigene families. Although previous studies have shown that multiplex gene editing in plants is possible with CRISPR-Cas9, the Cas9 system requires large constructs to express multiple sgRNA cassettes, which are more laborious to construct and could cause unstability and reduce transformation efficiency.

Cpf1 is a dual nuclease that not only cleaves target DNA but also processes its own CRISPR RNA. A study led by Professor Zhu Jiankangs lab at Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology of Chinese Academy of Sciences tested FnCpf1 and LbCpf1 for single and multiplex gene editing in rice.

Researchers found that both FnCpf1 and LbCpf1 with their own mature direct repeats induce mutations in transgenic plants. The LbCpf1 system gave higher editing efficiency in all six tested target sites.

Importantly, FnCpf1 and LbCpf1 also showed robust activity in multiplex gene editing when expressed together with a single CRISPR array. It has been proved that FnCpf1 and LbCpf1 are functional when the direct repeat sequences of their CRISPR arrays are exchanged.

This study demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of high efficiency multiplex gene editing in plants using engineered CRISPR-Cpf1 with a simple short DR-guide array, which significantly simplifies multiplex gene editing in plants.

The article can be found at: Wang et al. (2017) Multiplex Gene Editing in Rice Using the CRISPR-Cpf1 System.

Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Photo: Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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CRISPR Used To Modify Multiple Genes In Rice - Asian Scientist Magazine

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