Using CRISPR-Kill for organ specific cell elimination by cleavage of tandem repeats.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35314679.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-29130-w and PMC identifier 8938420.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas has been mainly used for mutagenesis through the induction of double strand breaks (DSBs) within unique protein-coding genes. Using the SaCas9 nuclease to induce multiple DSBs in functional repetitive DNA of Arabidopsis thaliana, we can now show that cell death can be induced in a controlled way. This approach, named CRISPR-Kill, can be used as tool for tissue engineering. By simply exchanging the constitutive promoter of SaCas9 with cell type-specific promoters, it is possible to block organogenesis in Arabidopsis. By AP1-specific expression of CRISPR-Kill, we are able to restore the apetala1 phenotype and to specifically eliminate petals. In addition, by expressing CRISPR-Kill in root-specific pericycle cells, we are able to dramatically reduce the number and the length of lateral roots. In the future, the application of CRISPR-Kill may not only help to control development but could also be used to change the biochemical properties of plants.
Medical subject headings
- Arabidopsis
- CRISPR-Cas Systems