Iowa State Scientists Use Gene Editing to Explore Chromosomes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Researchers at Iowa State University (ISU) have made discoveries about Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the bacterium responsible for the creation of genetically modified (GM) crops. Led by Professor Kan Wang of ISU's Agronomy and Biotechnology, the team explored how changes in the bacterium's DNA affect its ability to infect plants and influence their growth.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is also the foundation of genetic engineering in agriculture, which allows scientists to insert foreign genes into crops. “All of the GMOs on the market were made by Agrobacterium,” Wang explained. While studying as a graduate student, Wang learned Agrobacterium's unique ability to transfer its own DNA into plant cells and integrate it into their chromosomes. This led the researchers to use gene editing methods to “disarm” the genes responsible for tumor growth in plants and replace them with a different gene.

Using gene editing, Wang's team “played around” with Agrobacterium's chromosomes by deleting certain genes and adding others in. They found that rearranging them altered the bacterium's growth and infection capabilities. The research also revealed that Agrobacterium with fused chromosomes grew faster but were less effective at infecting plants. Wang said the research could lead to improved biocontrol strategies for farmers and better biotechnological tools for scientists.

For more information, read the article from Iowa Capital Dispatch.