Engineering plants using diverse CRISPR-associated proteins and deregulation of genome-edited crops

Qamar U Zaman; Ali Raza; Jorge Lozano-Juste; Li Chao; Michael G K Jones; Hua-Feng Wang; Rajeev K Varshney

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.007

Engineering plants using diverse CRISPR-associated proteins and deregulation of genome-edited crops

Trends Biotechnol. 2023 Nov 21:S0167-7799(23)00298-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.007. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Qamar U Zaman¹, Ali Raza², Jorge Lozano-Juste³, Li Chao⁴, Michael G K Jones⁵, Hua-Feng Wang⁶, Rajeev K Varshney⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan Yazhou-Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan University, Sanya, 572025, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Nanfan and High-Efficiency Tropical Agriculture, School of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Key Laboratory for Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xudong 2nd Road, Wuhan 430062, China.
² Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
³ Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universitat Politècnica de València, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia 46022, Spain.
⁴ Key Laboratory for Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xudong 2nd Road, Wuhan 430062, China.
⁵ Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia.
⁶ School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan Yazhou-Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan University, Sanya, 572025, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Nanfan and High-Efficiency Tropical Agriculture, School of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China. Electronic address: hfwang@hainanu.edu.cn.
⁷ Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia. Electronic address: rajeev.varshney@murdoch.edu.au.

PMID: 37993299
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.007

Abstract

The CRISPR/Cas system comprises RNA-guided nucleases, the target specificity of which is directed by Watson-Crick base pairing of target loci with single guide (sg)RNA to induce the desired edits. CRISPR-associated proteins and other engineered nucleases are opening new avenues of research in crops to induce heritable mutations. Here, we review the diversity of CRISPR-associated proteins and strategies to deregulate genome-edited (GEd) crops by considering them to be close to natural processes. This technology ensures yield without penalties, advances plant breeding, and guarantees manipulation of the genome for desirable traits. DNA-free and off-target-free GEd crops with defined characteristics can help to achieve sustainable global food security under a changing climate, but need alignment of international regulations to operate in existing supply chains.

Keywords: CRISPR proteins; CRISPR-system; Cas12a/Cpf1; Cas13a/C2c2; Cas9; certification for deregulations; dCas9; genome-edited crops.

Publication types

Review