– New molecular delivery technique using needle-shaped crystal "whiskers" enables more efficient production of genome-edited crops –
Researchers) NAKAMURA Akiyoshi, Senior Researcher, SUGANO S. Shigeo, Senior Researcher, Plant Gene Regulation Research Group, Bioproduction Research Institute
- Ultrasonically vibrating needle crystals pierce plant cells to introduce genome editing tools, named the Sonication-assisted Whisker RNP method.
- This technology contributes to the development of crops that are resistant to stress caused by climate changes and crops with high nutrients
- A new step toward plant genome editing technology without foreign DNA
Schematic image of Sonication-assisted Whisker RNP Method
Researchers at AIST, in collaboration with Toppan Inc. and Inplanta Innovations Inc. have utilized needle-like crystals (whiskers) made of potassium titanate and ultrasound to introduce the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) of CRISPR-Cas9, a genome editing tool, into plants. We have developed the whisker ultrasound RNP method as a new genome editing tool.
It has been known that DNA can be introduced directly into plant cells by piercing them with a micro-sized needle, “whisker.” However, it was not clear whether RNP, a genome editing tool, could be introduced into plant cells. In this study, we found the conditions under which RNPs can be introduced into plant cells thereby produced genome-edited rice plants. Compared to Agrobacterium-based gene transfer methods, the introduction of genome editing tools into plants by whiskers is less dependent on the biological characteristics of the plant, making it possible to perform genome editing using RNPs in a variety of plant species. The sonication-assisted RNP delivery by the whisker method has also been shown to enable genome editing of rice cells without using any DNA at all.
The achievement of our research is a new step toward establishing a platform for genome editing in variety of plants without using DNA at all.
In research and development to improve plants, AIST has pursued to control the functions of plants through genetic modification. For example, AIST has developed a multi-petaled cyclamen by suppressing the function of a gene that produces stamens and pistils (AIST press release, April 26, 2010), and an ozone-tolerant plant by controlling the opening and closing of pores on the leaf surface (AIST press release, January 18, 2017).
To implement the above results in society, not only genetic modification but also genome editing technology is effective. As a result, we have developed a new genome editing technology in plants, the sonication-assisted whisker RNP method.