CRISPR/Cas9介导的多基因编辑系统在大豆中的应用

自CRISPR/Cas9（clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9）基因 组编辑技术发现以来，迅速在作物中得到广泛应用。但是，CRISPR/Cas9多基因编辑系统在大豆中的研究尚待开 发。本文利用CRISPR/Cas9介导的多基因编辑系统，分别构建了两个载体，一个载体含6个靶点，编辑7个大豆基因 （4个Glycine max ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1（GmAS1）同源基因和3个GmAS2 同源基因），另一个载体含8个靶点，编辑 11个G. max AGAMOUS 家族同源基因（4个GmAG 同源基因，2个G. max SEEDSTICK（GmSTK）同源基因和5个G. max SHATTERPROOF1（GmSHP1/2）同源基因）。大豆遗传转化后，经表型鉴定和靶点检测发现，CRISPR/Cas9介导的多 基因编辑系统在大豆中成功实现了多基因编辑。当3个GmAS1 同源基因和3个GmAS2 同源基因同时突变时，导致 大豆叶片向远轴面弯曲、皱缩且叶柄变短的表型。当2个GmSHP1 同源基因和2个GmSTK 同源基因同时突变时，导 致豆荚停止发育的不育表型。     

甘蓝型油菜和甘蓝CRISPR/Cas9编辑效果的快速检测

CRISPR/Cas9系统是目前最常用的基因组定点编辑工具，通过瞬时表达试验提前验证Cas9/sgRNA载体诱导的突变效率，可以提高基因组定点编辑成功的几率，且显著节省费用及时间。本研究开发了一种利用农杆菌介导的操作简单、适用性好、成本低廉的叶片瞬时表达技术，可用于快速检测甘蓝型油菜和甘蓝中CRISPR/Cas9的编辑效果。针对甘蓝型油菜BnaC.WRKY11.a设计了2个靶位点Tgt1（Target 1）和Tgt2（Target 2），并构建了Cas9/sgRNA-Tgt1/2多重突变载体，在甘蓝型油菜叶片中瞬时表达后，2个靶位点都出现突变，突变效率达11.2%～82.2%。针对甘蓝BolPDS3基因设计了1个靶位点Tgt3（Target3），并构建了Cas9/sgRNA-Tgt3敲除载体，在甘蓝叶片瞬时表达后，Tgt3发生了突变，且大部分为碱基缺失突变，缺失的数目为1～18bp不等，同时还存在少量碱基插入以及碱基替换等突变类型。结果表明这种甘蓝型油菜和甘蓝的叶片瞬时表达技术操作简单、适用性好、成本低廉，CRISPR/Cas9的编辑效果快速易检测。     

Improvement of Grain Shape and Fragrance by Using CRISPR/Cas9 System

【Objective】 CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing has become an important way for molecular breeding in rice. To promote rice breeding, the non-fragrant japonica rice variety Longjing11 was used as the test material. This study aims to edit GS3, GS9 and Badh2 genes for obtaining valuable and stable long-grain fragrant rice materials. 【Method】 The target genes GS3, GS9 and BADH2 were selected to construct the vector pYLCRISPR/ Cas9-GS3/ GS9/Badh2-gRNA by using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. The Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was used to transform Longjing11. Specific mutations were introduced into the GS3, GS9 and Badh2 genes in Longjing 11. 【Result】 The grain length of the transgenic free homozygote gs3/gs9/badh2 increased by 26.43% to 27.01%, yield per plant by 10.82% to 12.11%, 1000-grain weight by 18.34% to 41.36%, rice became fragrant as compared with wild type of Longjing 11. This study efficiently transformed round-grain rice into long-grain fragrant rice. 【Conclusion】The homozygous mutant lines featured by stable inheritance and long-grain fragrant quality were obtained by using CRISPR/Cas9 system. This study provides a convenient and effective way of combining multiple quality traits together, which could significantly accelerate breeding process from a breeding perspective.     

利用CRISPR/Cas9系统定向改良水稻粒长和穗粒数性状

【目的】基因组定点编辑技术已成为分子育种的重要手段。本研究拟对GS3和Gn1a功能缺失突变对目标性状的改良效应进行分析,以期为培育高产水稻提供理论基础。【方法】利用CRISPR/Cas9系统,以控制粒型基因GS3和控制每穗粒数基因Gn1a为编辑对象,构建了共敲除载体p C1300-2×35S::Cas9-g~(GS3)-g~(Gn1a)a,用农杆菌介导法转化4个优质水稻品种,分析了基因突变的特征和相应农艺性状。【结果】构建的敲除载体成功地实现了对GS3和Gn1a基因的定点编辑。在4个转化受体的T_0代均分别获得了gs3和gs3gn1a的移码突变体。对T_1 代中无选择标记突变体的农艺性状分析表明,突变体gs3和gs3gn1a与野生型相比粒长变长,千粒重增加;突变体gs3gn1a与突变体gs3相比,每穗粒数显著增加。【结论】利用CRISPR/Cas9系统进行水稻基因编辑可以快速改良品种的目标性状,在水稻品种的定向改良方面具有巨大的潜力。     

CRISPR/Cas9-Targeted Knockout of Rice Susceptibility Genes OsDjA2 and OsERF104 Reveals Alternative Sources of Resistance to Pyricularia oryzae

Rice genes OsDjA2 and OsERF104, encoding a chaperone protein and an APETELA2/ ethylene-responsive factor, respectively, are strongly induced in a compatible interaction with blast fungus, and also have function in plant susceptibility validated through gene silencing. Here, we reported the CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of OsDjA2 and OsERF104 genes resulting in considerable improvement of blast resistance. A total of 15 OsDjA2 (62.5%) and 17 OsERF104 (70.8%) T₀ transformed lines were identified from 24 regenerated plants for each target and used in downstream experiments. Phenotyping of homozygous T₁ mutant lines revealed not only a significant decrease in the number of blast lesions but also a reduction in the percentage of diseased leaf area, compared with the infected control plants. Our results supported CRISPR/Cas9-mediated target mutation in rice susceptibility genes as a potential and alternative breeding strategy for building resistance to blast disease.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">OsLAP6/OsPKS1</Emphasis>, an orthologue of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis PKSA/LAP6</Emphasis>, is critical for proper pollen exine formation

Background

Male fertility is crucial for rice yield, and the improvement of rice yield requires hybrid production that depends on male sterile lines. Although recent studies have revealed several important genes in male reproductive development, our understanding of the mechanisms of rice pollen development remains unclear.

Results

We identified a rice mutant oslap6 with complete male sterile phenotype caused by defects in pollen exine formation. By using the MutMap method, we found that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation located in the second exon of OsLAP6/OsPKS1 was responsible for the mutant phenotype. OsLAP6/OsPKS1 is an orthologous gene of Arabidopsis PKSA/LAP6, which functions in sporopollenin metabolism. Several other loss-of-function mutants of OsLAP6/OsPKS1 generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing tool also exhibited the same phenotype of male sterility. Our cellular analysis suggested that OsLAP6/OsPKS1 might regulate pollen exine formation by affecting bacula elongation. Expression examination indicated that OsLAP6/OsPKS1 is specifically expressed in tapetum, and its product is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Protein sequence analysis indicated that OsLAP6/OsPKS1 is conserved in land plants.

Conclusions

OsLAP6/OsPKS1 is a critical molecular switch for rice male fertility by participating in a conserved sporopollenin precursor biosynthetic pathway in land plants. Manipulation of OsLAP6/OsPKS1 has potential for application in hybrid rice breeding.

     

Proteomic analysis of a disease-resistance-enhanced lesion mimic mutant spotted leaf 5 in rice

Background

Rice is a major source of dietary intake of arsenic (As) for the populations that consume rice as a staple food. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the As concentration in rice to avoid the potential risk to human health. In this study, the genetic diversity in As accumulation and As speciation in rice grains was investigated using a world rice core collection (WRC) comprising 69 accessions grown over a 3-year period. Moreover, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was conducted to identify QTLs controlling the dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) content of rice grains.

Results

There was a 3-fold difference in the grain As concentration of WRC. Concentrations of total-As, inorganic As, and DMA were significantly affected by genotype, year, and genotype-year interaction effects. Among the WRC accessions, Local Basmati and Tima (indica type) were identified as cultivars with the lowest stable total-As and inorganic As concentrations. Using an F₂ population derived from Padi Perak (a high-DMA accession) and Koshihikari (a low-DMA cultivar), we identified two QTLs on chromosome 6 (qDMAs6.1 and qDMAs6.2) and one QTL on chromosome 8 (qDMAs8) that were responsible for variations in the grain DMA concentration. Approximately 73% of total phenotypic variance in DMA was explained by the three QTLs.

Conclusions

Based on the results provided, one strategy for developing rice cultivars with a low level of toxic As would be to change the proportion of organic As on the basis of a low level of total As content.     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术高效创制长粒香型水稻

【目的】CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术已成为水稻分子育种的重要手段。为了促进水稻育种的发展,本研究以非香型粳稻品种龙粳11为试验材料,对GS3、GS9和Badh2基因进行编辑,以期获得能稳定遗传的长粒香水稻材料。【方法】利用CRISPR/Cas9技术,以GS3、GS9和Badh2为靶基因,构建敲除载体pYLCRISPR/Cas9-GS3/ GS9/Badh2-gRNA,通过农杆菌介导法,在龙粳11的GS3、GS9和Badh2基因中引入了特定的突变。【结果】T₂代无转基因的gs3/gs9/badh2纯合突变体与野生型龙粳11相比,粒长增加26.43%~27.01%,单株产量增加10.82%~12.11%,千粒重增加18.34%~41.36%,稻米变香,高效地将圆粒水稻变成长粒香型水稻。【结论】利用CRISPR/Cas9技术获得能够稳定遗传并具有长粒香品质的纯合突变株系,为组合多个品质性状提供了一种方便有效的方法,从育种角度加快了新品系创制过程。     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术创制Rc基因恢复红稻

【目的】将栽培稻品种恢复为米质优、抗逆性强的红稻具有较大的研究价值。利用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术，编辑原花青素转录调节因子Rc基因，恢复红种皮特性，以改良水稻米质，提升抗逆性。【方法】利用CRISPR/Cas9技术，以Rc为靶基因，构建突变载体pYLCRISPR/Cas9-Rc-gRNA，以空育180、上育453为材料，转化获得转基因植株，通过测序手段和表型观察验证成果。【结果】分子水平检测获得Rc突变材料2种，其中KY-1在1414―1417 bp缺失4个碱基，终止子突变为苯丙氨酸；SY-1在1411 bp处缺失1个碱基，终止子突变为天冬氨酸。2种编辑材料均恢复为红米表型，且具有一定耐盐碱能力。【结论】利用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术成功获得恢复红种皮表型的纯合株系，为红米改良提供基础材料。     

Progress of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in breeding of Brassica napus

Gene editing technology provides important technical basics for the research in plant functional genes and crop genetic improvement. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing is an effective experimental tool for crop genome directed editing in recent years, which has been widely used in many crops as rice, wheat and other crops. CRISPR/Cas9 system was expected to be a powerful experimental tool in genetic improvement and molecular design breeding of rapeseed. This paper, which based on the development history and the latest research of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology in rapeseed, summarized the progress of CRISPR/Cas9 including plant type improvement, yield traits, quality improvement, disease and stress resistance improvement, yellow seed creation and other utilizes at present. The application scope, development direction and target analysis method of this technology in rape were focused. The problems of CRISPR/cas9 system in rapeseed breeding were analyzed and the improvement strategies were discussed. Finally, views on direction of rapeseed breeding by gene editing were emphasized.     

OsSUV3 transgenic rice maintains higher endogenous levels of plant hormones that mitigates adverse effects of salinity and sustains crop productivity

Background

The SUV3 (suppressor of Var 3) gene encodes a DNA and RNA helicase, which is localized in the mitochondria. Plant SUV3 has not yet been characterized in detail. However, the Arabidopsis ortholog of SUV3 (AT4G14790) has been shown to be involved in embryo sac development. Previously, we have reported that rice SUV3 functions as DNA and RNA helicase and provides salinity stress tolerance by maintaining photosynthesis and antioxidant machinery. Here, we report further analysis of the transgenic OsSUV3 rice plants under salt stress.

Findings

The transgenic OsSUV3 overexpressing rice T₁ lines showed significantly higher endogenous content of plant hormones viz., gibberellic acid (GA₃), zeatin (Z) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in leaf, stem and root as compared to wild-type (WT), vector control (VC) and antisense (AS) plants under salt (200 mM NaCl) stress condition. A similar trend of endogenous plant hormones profile was also reflected in the T₂ generation of OsSUV3 transgenic rice under defined parameters and stress condition.

Conclusions

In response to stress, OsSUV3 rice plants maintained plant hormone levels that regulate the expression of several stress-induced genes and reduce adverse effects of salt on plant growth and development and therefore sustains crop productivity.     

Nomenclature report on rice WRKY's - Conflict regarding gene names and its solution

Background

Since whole genome sequences of rice were made publically accessible, the number of articles on new rice genes has increased remarkably. The Committee on Gene Symbolization, Nomenclature and Linkage (CGSNL) of the Rice Genetics Cooperative published the gene nomenclature system for rice and encouraged researchers to follow the rules before publishing their results. The CGSNL provides an on-line registration system for newly identified rice genes to prevent conflicts and/or duplication of gene name in journal articles.

Findings

Recently, the CGSNL surveyed genes in the rice WRKY family in published journal articles and found several duplicated gene names.

Conclusions

To discuss and resolve inconsistencies in WRKY gene nomenclature, the rice WRKY working group was established and redefined the nomenclature. This report announces the conclusion.     

Mechanisms for coping with submergence and waterlogging in rice

Background

Oligopeptide transporters (OPTs) play important roles in the mobilization of organic nitrogenous compounds and usually associate with tissues that show signs of rapid protein hydrolysis, such as germinating seeds and senescing leaves. This study is to investigate rice OPT genes.

Results

A total of sixteen OsOPT genes (Os for Oryza sative L.) were identified in the rice genome, which were then classified into six sections that belong to two subfamilies (the PT and YSL subfamily). The major mechanisms for evolutionary expansion of the sixteen genes during the rice genome evolution include segmental and tandem duplication. Calculation of the duplication event dates indicated that the sixteen genes originated from nine original OsOPT genes, and the duplication events could be classified into three evolutionary stages. The first evolutionary stage occurred approximately 50 million years ago (Mya) and involved the evolution of four new genes. The second evolutionary stage was approximately 20 Mya and was marked by the appearance of two new genes, and the third evolutionary stage was approximately 9 Mya when two new genes evolved. Mining of the expression database and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of most duplicated OsOPT genes showed high tissue specificities. Diverse expression patterns for the sixteen genes were evaluated using both semi-quantitative RT-PCR and the MPSS data. Expression levels of some OsOPT genes were regulated by abiotic and biotic stresses suggesting the potential involvement of these gene products in rice stress adaptation. Five OsOPT gene mutants showed abnormal development and growth, the primary analysis of five OsOPT gene mutants suggested that they may be necessary for rice development.

Conclusions

These results suggested that rice-specific OsOPT genes might be potentially useful in improving rice.     

An in planta, Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression method for inducing gene silencing in rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaves

Background

Although the genetic structure of rice germplasm has been characterized worldwide, few studies investigated germplasm from Thailand, the world’s largest exporter of rice. Thailand and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have diverse collections of rice germplasm, which could be used to develop breeding lines with desirable traits. This study aimed to investigate the level of genetic diversity and structures of Thai and selected IRRI germplasm. Understanding the genetic structure and relationships among these germplasm will be useful for parent selection used in rice breeding programs.

Results

From the 98 InDel markers tested for single copy and polymorphism, 19 markers were used to evaluate 43 Thai and 57 IRRI germplasm, including improved cultivars, breeding lines, landraces, and 5 other Oryza species. The Thai accessions were selected from all rice ecologies such as irrigated, deep water, upland, and rainfed lowland ecosystems. The IRRI accessions were groups of germplasm having agronomic desirable traits, including temperature-sensitive genetic male sterility (TGMS), new plant type, early flowering, and biotic and abiotic stress resistances. Most of the InDel markers were genes with diverse functions. These markers produced the total of 127 alleles for all loci, with a mean of 6.68 alleles per locus, and a mean Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of 0.440. Genetic diversity of Thai rice were 0.3665, 0.4479 and 0.3972 for improved cultivars, breeding lines, and landraces, respectively, while genetic diversity of IRRI improved and breeding lines were 0.3272 and 0.2970, respectively. Cluster, structure, and differentiation analyses showed six distinct groups: japonica, TGMS, deep-water, IRRI germplasm, Thai landraces and breeding lines, and other Oryza species.

Conclusions

Thai and IRRI germplasm were significantly different. Thus, they can be used to broaden the genetic base and trait improvements. Cluster, structure, and differentiation analyses showed concordant results having six distinct groups, in agreement with their development, and ecologies.     

Molecular mapping of the Pi2/9 allelic gene Pi2-2 conferring broad-spectrum resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae in the rice cultivar Jefferson

Background

Efficient production of carbon-neutral biofuels is key to resolving global warming and exhaustion of fossil fuels. Cellulose, which is the most abundant biomass, is physically strong and biochemically stable, and these characteristics lead to difficulty of efficient saccharification of cellulosic compounds for production of fermentable glucose and other sugars.

Results

We transformed rice with overexpressing constructs of rice genes encoding each of three classes of cellulases. The exo-glucanase overexpressing plants showed various abnormalities in leaf such as division of leaf blade, crack on leaf surface, excess lacunae in midrib structure and necrotic colour change. The overexpressing plants also showed sterility. Noticeably, these plants showed enhanced saccharification of stems after maturation. These results indicate that overexpression of the exo-glucanase gene brought about various developmental defects associated with modification of cell wall and enhanced saccharification in rice. On the other hand, endo-glucanase-overexpressing plants could not be obtained, and overexpression of β-glucosidase brought about no effect on plant growth and development.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that genetic engineering of cellulosic biomass plants by overexpressing cellulase genes will be one of the approaches to confer enhanced saccharification ability for efficient production of cellulosic biofuels such as ethanol.