Virus-based Vector Delivers Efficient Protein Expression and Gene Editing in Cassava

Scientists from China developed a virus-mediated protein overexpression (VOX) virus for cassava. This is the first one reported available for cassava since the previous vector was developed through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS).

The VOX vector was the product of the modification of the cassava common mosaic virus (CsCMV)-based VIGS vector. The scientists duplicated the length of the putative subgenomic promoter of the CsCMV gene which resulted to an improved heterologous protein expression in cassava plants. The vector was used to deliver single guide RNAs that targeted two loci of the cassava's phytoene desaturase gene in Cas-9 overexpressing transgenic cassava lines. The modification was able to induce deleted mutations that produced albino cassava phenotypes.

The scientists reported that the CsCMV-vector can be used for heterologous gene expression and gene editing in cassava. Further studies on the subject can facilitate functional genomic studies, biotechnology applications, and precision breeding of the crop.

More information is available in Plant Methods.