植物CRISPR基因组编辑技术的新进展

在过去的4年中,CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术成为生命科学领域的革命性工具,为植物学基础研究和农作物遗传改良提供了高效、快速而又廉价的遗传操作工具。利用CRISPR/Cas9系统可以实现精准的knock-out和knock-in等遗传操作,也可用于靶向激活或抑制基因的表达。在CRISPR/Cas9被广泛地用于基因组编辑的同时,它的编辑能力、效率和精确度也在不断地改进和完善,特别是CRISPR/Cpf1系统的发掘和单碱基编辑技术的创建,使CRISPR系统正逐步成为一个理想的遗传工程技术平台。此外,利用CRISPR/Cas9技术改良的农作物品种也已经涌现,这必将推动精准基因组编辑技术在农作物遗传改良中的应用和发展。

Recent progresses in CRISPR genome editing in plants

In the past 4 years, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing becomes the revolutionary tool in life sciences. This tool enables us to edit plant genes with unprecedented throughput, scalability, speed and low cost. In addition to targeted knock-in and knock-out applications, CRISPR/Cas9 also provides an efficient platform for targeted gene activation and suppression. At the same time, accuracy, capacity and efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing have been improved for sophisticated genetic manipulation. Furthermore, the genome editing toolbox is expanded by new technologies like CRISPR/Cpf1-mediated genome editing and single base editing. Owing to these recent progresses, CRISPR technology is close to the dream tool for plant sciences and will accelerate the crop genetic improvement through precise genome editing.