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ISDra2TnpB
Context:
A collaborative team from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Pennsylvania State University has developed a groundbreaking genome-editing tool.
More on News:
- This new tool, named ISDra2TnpB, is small enough to be effectively used in plant genomes, addressing a major limitation in the field.
- It could greatly advance agricultural biotechnology by improving crop yields and resilience.
TnpB Protein
Key Highlights:
- Traditional CRISPR proteins, Cas9 and Cas12, are too large for efficient use in plant cells, limiting their effectiveness in plant genome editing.
- Researchers developed a smaller plant genome editor using ISDra2TnpB, a protein derived from Deinococcus radiodurans.
- TnpB operates by binding to a specific DNA sequence with the help of guide RNA, cutting the DNA, and allowing the cell to repair and modify the genome by replacing undesirable sequences with desirable ones.
- The system achieved a 33.58% editing efficiency in plant genomes including both monocots (e.g., rice) and dicots (e.g., Arabidopsis), on targets inaccessible to Cas9 or Cas12.
- The TnpB-based system supports both base editing and transcription activation, enhancing its utility in plant synthetic biology.
- Efficiency in dicot plants remains a challenge, with lower editing efficiency reported for Arabidopsis (0.2-0.46%).
- The new editing tool promises to enhance crop traits by removing anti-nutrient factors, increasing pest resistance, and modifying plant characteristics like height.