Soumya Shraddhya Paul, Amity University Noida
CRISPR is a highly innovative technique, used in gene editing. Usually, CRISPR is known to eliminate undesirable genes, but activation of genes to provide the functionality to a plant or organisms is pretty new. But recently a study conducted by a group of researchers in Nature Plants, headed by Yiping Qi, associate professor of Plant Science at the University of Maryland (UMD), has managed to introduce us to a new and improved form of CRISPR 3.0. Which focuses on gene activation rather than previously used gene editing. CRISPR 3.0 can activate multiple genes in plants also known as multiplexed gene activation, this gives plants improved character necessary for their survival and also gives better yield.
Brief about the Study
Previously, RNA-guided CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) was developed in plants. But this mainly focused on the gene-editing aspects, rather than multiplex gene activation. Therefore to get over the problem of gene activation, scientists developed an improved CRISPRa known as CRISPR act 3.0. To develop this technology, they mainly worked on rice, Arabidopsis and tomato they systematically explored various effector recruitment strategies and transcription activators based on deactivated Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (dSpCas9). Through this, they managed to show four to six-fold higher activation.
It’s important to note here that previously CRISPR was known as “molecular scissors” as they can cut DNA, but since they are using deactivated CRISPR-Cas 9 which can only bind, activation is possible because of that. The concept here is simple: without the ability to cut, the system will mainly focus on recruiting activation proteins for specific genes of interest by binding to certain segments of DNA instead.
Researchers also checked with the SpRY variant and CRISPR Cas12b deactivated form to show the versatility of this new tool or CRISPR system.
Results
To show how robust CRISPR-Act 3.0 is they developed tRNA–gR2.0 (single guide RNA 2.0) which activated over seven genes which will help in the metabolic engineering of rice, also this technique brings simultaneous modification of multiple traits in Arabidopsis, which are easily transmitted to the T3 generation. With the help of CRISPR-Act 3.0 effective transcription was also seen.
In short, through this tool, the team managed to show that it is possible to simultaneously activate various genes which include flowering that speeds up the breeding process of the plants. This is one of the many benefits that CRISPR-Act 3.0 can provide.
Conclusion
Improved CRISPRa technology provides researchers with a handy tool for activation of genes in foundational and transcriptional research. Furthermore, it may also improve the quality of crops giving us a higher yield as well as also help us stay safe from various toxic materials that are currently being used in farming. Qi (head scientist) believed that through this technology, he will improve plants and their natural capacities and improve crop breeding and enhancement. Above all, it also showed that CRISPR is not only a molecular scissor but it can also activate various underlying genes that can provide us with valuable characteristics.
Also read: Nanodecoys from special lung cells can kill SARS-CoV2
References:
- Pan, C., Wu, X., Markel, K. et al. CRISPR–Act3.0 for highly efficient multiplexed gene activation in plants. Nat. Plants (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00953-7
About author:
Soumya Shraddhya Paul is an undergraduate biotechnology student who worked in building 3D prosthetics in Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, and holds a key interest in nutraceuticals and enzymology.
Social Media Info: www.linkedin.com/in/soumya-shraddhya-paul-858229203
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