Researchers from ICAR-National Rice Research Institute and Pennsylvania State University developed a smaller alternative called ISDra2TnpB.
About CRISPR
- CRISPR is a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes in an organism’s genome to introduce beneficial traits or remove unwanted ones.
- This technology is especially good for agriculture, where it can increase crop yields and resistance to disease and climate change.
- Challenges in Plant Gene Editing
- Size Issue: CRISPR uses proteins like Cas9 or Cas12 to target DNA, but these proteins are too large to effectively work in plant cells, limiting their use in plant genome editing.
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What is ISDra2TnpB?
- ISDra2TnpB is a specialized protein made up of around 400 amino acid units.
- It comes from the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans.
- It can precisely cut DNA, which makes it useful for editing genes.
- It is a smaller alternative to Cas9 and Cas12, commonly used in CRISPR-based genome editing.
- ISDra2TnpB is less than half the size of Cas9 or Cas12, making it better suited for plant cells.
- DNA Structure and Role of Nucleotides
- The genome consists of two DNA strands held together by nucleotides.
- Each nucleotide has three parts, two of which are common, and the third is one of four options: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), or guanine (G).
- The sequence of these nucleotides determines the genetic code.
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- The new system was tested in both rice (a monocot) and Arabidopsis (a dicot), showing a 33.58% editing efficiency in plants where Cas9 and Cas12 were ineffective.
- It offers a way to address the size constraints of current plant genome editing tools.
Key Features of ISDra2TnpB
- RNA-Guided: It uses RNA to guide the cutting of DNA at exact spots.
“Jumping genes”
- These are DNA sequences that move within genomes.
- Function: Carry only the information needed to move, not to benefit the organism.
- Negative Impact: Can disrupt or alter important genes.
- Human Genome: About 30% of our DNA consists of transposons or related sequences.
- Positive Potential: May contribute to genetic diversity or evolution.
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- Part of TnpB Family: ISDra2TnpB is a member of the TnpB protein family, which is linked to transposons, also known as “jumping genes” that can move within the genome.
- Potential in Medicine: It corrects faulty genes in organisms which makes it a powerful tool for future medical treatments.
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How does TnpB work?
- ISDra2TnpB uses a piece of RNA as a guide to find specific DNA sequences.
- The RNA helps the protein identify the right spot on the DNA where it needs to make a cut.
- This guide RNA comes from a specific part of the transposon called the right element (RE).
- Enhanced Crop Resilience and Yield
- Disease resistance: TnpB can be used to edit genes that make plants susceptible to diseases, improving their overall health and productivity.
- Pest resistance: By targeting genes related to pest attraction or vulnerability, TnpB can help create crops that are less susceptible to insect damage.
- Nutritional Improvement
- Reduced anti-nutrients: TnpB can be used to remove or reduce anti-nutrients in food crops, making them more nutritious and digestible.
- Increased nutrient content: TnpB can be used to enhance the levels of essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, in crops.
- Crop Quality and Safety
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- Improved taste: TnpB can be used to modify genes that affect the flavor and texture of crops, making them more appealing to consumers.
- Reduced allergens: TnpB can help eliminate or reduce allergens in food crops, making them safer for people with allergies.
Overall, TnpB-based gene-editing tools offer significant potential to improve agricultural productivity, crop quality, and food safety.
- Lower Efficiency in Dicot Plants
- TnpB has shown good results in monocot plants like rice, but it hasn’t worked as well in dicot plants such as Arabidopsis.
- This challenge needs to be overcome for TnpB to be used more widely across different plant species.
- Limited Data from Whole Plants
- Most success with TnpB has been seen in protoplasts (plant cells without cell walls).
- However, more testing is needed in whole plants to confirm its effectiveness in real-world conditions.
- Challenges with DNA Integration
- The way plants absorb and incorporate external DNA into their genomes may affect how well TnpB works.
- More research is required to fully understand and improve this process for better results.
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August 22, 2024
