Experts Develop CasY7 for Better Gene Editing of Crops

Scientists from South China Agricultural University and partners have developed a gene-editing tool called CasY7, a high-performance alternative to Cas9 nuclease that is commonly used in CRISPR gene-editing systems. Originally successful in medical trials, this "molecular scissors" has now been optimized for agriculture. By refining its structure and guidance system, researchers significantly boosted its ability to make precise changes to plant DNA.

In large-scale testing across nearly 1,000 plants, the optimized CasY7 system achieved efficiency rates of 87.7% in maize and 82.9% in rice. This makes the tool nearly three times more effective than previous industry standards. It also proved capable of multiplexing, allowing scientists to edit several traits simultaneously.

According to the researchers, CasY7 is a robust and versatile tool for major crops, including wheat, which has complex traits. By providing a more reliable and efficient way to modify plant genes, CasY7 offers a powerful new resource for developing hardier, more productive crops to meet global food demands.

Read the research article in the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology.