DATE2025.07.01 #Press Releases
Significant Improvement in the Efficiency of Generating Genome-Edited Plants Without Foreign DNA
-A Promising Step Toward Expanding the Range of Crops Amenable to Genome Editing -
Summary
The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) has been developing a genome editing method that utilizes a virus-derived vector capable of moving between plant cells to generate genome-edited plants without introducing foreign DNA. In this study, a research team from NARO, the University of Tokyo, and Ryukoku University successfully increased the efficiency of producing genome-edited plants by more than 30-fold compared to the conventional method using SpCas9, by combining a compact and highly efficient genome editing enzyme—engineered AsCas12f—with a vector derived from Potato virus X (PVX vector).
This achievement is expected to enable the application of efficient and user-friendly genome editing technologies without foreign DNA to a wider variety of plant species.
The research findings have been published in the international journal Frontiers in Plant Science.
This study includes contributions from Professor Osamu Nureki the Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science at The University of Tokyo.
Figure: Generation of genome-edited plants without foreign DNA by the viral vector method using SpCas9 or modified AsCas12f
With SpCas9, genome editing occurs only in some cells of leaves transfected with the PVX vector, but with modified AsCas12f, genome editing is highly efficient even in leaves that have not been directly transfected with the PVX vector. Using modified AsCas12f, genome editing occurred in many cells, resulting in a more than 30-fold increase in the efficiency of producing genome-edited plantlets.
Related Links
National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ryukoku University
Journals
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Journal name Frontiers in Plant ScienceTitle of paper