CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing in Soybean Hairy Roots

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 18;10(8):e0136064. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136064. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

As a new technology for gene editing, the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)/Cas (CRISPR-associated) system has been rapidly and widely used for genome engineering in various organisms. In the present study, we successfully applied type II CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate and estimate genome editing in the desired target genes in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill.). The single-guide RNA (sgRNA) and Cas9 cassettes were assembled on one vector to improve transformation efficiency, and we designed a sgRNA that targeted a transgene (bar) and six sgRNAs that targeted different sites of two endogenous soybean genes (GmFEI2 and GmSHR). The targeted DNA mutations were detected in soybean hairy roots. The results demonstrated that this customized CRISPR/Cas9 system shared the same efficiency for both endogenous and exogenous genes in soybean hairy roots. We also performed experiments to detect the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 system to simultaneously edit two endogenous soybean genes using only one customized sgRNA. Overall, generating and detecting the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome modifications in target genes of soybean hairy roots could rapidly assess the efficiency of each target loci. The target sites with higher efficiencies can be used for regular soybean transformation. Furthermore, this method provides a powerful tool for root-specific functional genomics studies in soybean.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics*
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Genome, Plant / genetics*
  • Glycine max / genetics*
  • Glycine max / growth & development
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Plant Roots / genetics*
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / growth & development
  • RNA Editing / genetics*
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Soybean Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Soybean Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Major Science and Technology Projects of China (2014ZX08010-004) and the CAAS (Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences) Innovation Project. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.