Pollen self-elimination CRISPR-Cas genome editing prevents transgenic pollen dispersal in maize

Honglin Wang; Xiantao Qi; Jinjie Zhu; Changlin Liu; Hongwei Fan; Xuecai Zhang; Xinhai Li; Qin Yang; Chuanxiao Xie

doi:10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100637

Pollen self-elimination CRISPR-Cas genome editing prevents transgenic pollen dispersal in maize

Plant Commun. 2023 Nov 13;4(6):100637. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100637. Epub 2023 Jun 10.

Authors

Honglin Wang¹, Xiantao Qi², Jinjie Zhu², Changlin Liu³, Hongwei Fan⁴, Xuecai Zhang⁵, Xinhai Li², Qin Yang⁶, Chuanxiao Xie⁷

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China; College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
² Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
³ Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Sanya, Hainan Province 572024 China.
⁴ Henan Jinyuan Seed Industry Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
⁵ International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), EI Batan, Mexico.
⁶ College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: qyang@nwafu.edu.cn.
⁷ Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Sanya, Hainan Province 572024 China. Electronic address: xiechuanxiao@caas.cn.

Abstract

This study reports the development of a programmed pollen self-elimination CRISPR-Cas (PSEC) system in which the pollen is infertile when PSEC is present in haploid pollen. PSEC can be inherited through the female gametophyte and retains genome editing activity in vivo across generations. This system could greatly alleviate serious concerns about the widespread diffusion of genetically modified (GM) elements into natural and agricultural environments via outcrossing.

MeSH terms

CRISPR-Cas Systems* / genetics
Gene Editing*
Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
Pollen / genetics
Zea mays / genetics