Abstract
Genome-editing technologies based on the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) system have been widely used in plants to investigate gene function and improve crop traits. The recently developed DNA-free delivery methods and precise base-editing systems provide new opportunities for plant genome engineering. In this review, we describe the novel DNA-free genome-editing methods in plants. These methods reduce off-target effects and may alleviate regulatory concern about genetically modified plants. We also review applications of base-editing systems, which are highly effective in generating point mutations and are of great value for introducing agronomically valuable traits. Future perspectives for DNA-free editing and base editing are also discussed.
Abbreviations
- AID,
- activation-induced cytidine deaminase;
- CRISPR,
- clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat;
- dCas9,
- dead Cas9;
- DSBs,
- double-strand breaks;
- EPSPS,
- 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene;
- HR,
- homologous recombination;
- nCas9,
- Cas9 nickase;
- NHEJ,
- non-homologous end joining;
- PAM,
- protospacer adjacent motif;
- PEG,
- polyethylene glycol;
- RNP,
- ribonucleoprotein;
- UGI,
- uracil DNA glycosylase inhibitor
- Received July 10, 2017.
- Revision received September 13, 2017.
- Accepted September 19, 2017.
- © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology