Indian Researchers Develop a Miniature Plant Genome Editing Tool

Genome editing technology has revolutionized agriculture, bringing market-ready innovations such as high oleic soybean, low pungency mustard greens, and high GABA tomatoes. The potential of this technology to enhance agricultural sustainability is immense.

Traditionally, the SpCas9 nuclease, with its substantial size of around 1350 amino acids, has been the most widely used tool for genome editing. However, its large size poses significant challenges, particularly for effective delivery inside cells, especially through viral vectors. Reducing the size of RNA-guided genome editing nucleases is a critical goal to overcome these limitations. Smaller nucleases not only improve delivery efficiency but also facilitate the creation of fusion proteins, broadening the scope of genome engineering applications.

In a pioneering study, researchers from the ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, have developed a miniature plant genome editor that is only one-third the size of the widely used Cas9. This new genome editor protein, derived from the transposon-associated TnpB of Deinococcus radiodurans, has proven highly effective in editing multiple genes in both monocot rice and dicot Arabidopsis.

Like Cas9, which requires a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) for targeting, TnpB requires a transposon-associated motif (TAM) adjacent to the target sequence. TnpB can target unique regions in the genome that Cas9 cannot, adding a new dimension to genome editing capabilities.

The study, published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, showcases TnpB as a hypercompact, versatile and promising tool for plant genome engineering, marking a significant advancement in the field.

Read the research article in Plant Biotechnology Journal.