Expanding the base editing scope in rice by using Cas9 variants

• Published in: Plant biotechnology journal Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 499 - 504
• Main Authors: Hua, Kai, Tao, Xiaoping, Zhu, Jian‐Kang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2019; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adenine; adenine base editor; base editing; biotechnology; Cas9 variants; CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 - genetics; CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 - metabolism; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Cytosine; cytosine base editor; Editing; Gene Editing; Genome editing; Genome, Plant - genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Homology; Oryza - genetics; Plant breeding; Pyrimidines; Rice; Staphylococcus aureus - enzymology; Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Cas9 variants; cytosine base editor; rice; base editing; adenine base editor
• ISSN: 1467-7644; 1467-7652; 1467-7652
• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12993

Summary Base editing is a novel genome editing strategy that enables irreversible base conversion at target loci without the need for double stranded break induction or homology‐directed repair. Here, we developed new adenine and cytosine base editors with engineered SpCas9 and SaCas9 variants that substantially expand the targetable sites in the rice genome. These new base editors can edit endogenous genes in the rice genome with various efficiencies. Moreover, we show that adenine and cytosine base editing can be simultaneously executed in rice. The new base editors described here will be useful in rice functional genomics research and will advance precision molecular breeding in crops.