CRISPR/Cas基因组编辑技术在乳酸菌中的应用及研究展望

乳酸菌是一类重要的食品工业微生物,目前对其功能基因鉴定和挖掘优良功能基因主要依赖于传统的基因同源重组技术,该技术尽管有较高的可靠性,但是存在操作繁琐、效率低下等不足,严重制约了乳酸菌优良菌株的遗传选育。CRISPR/Cas基因编辑技术极大提升了对多物种基因组的编辑效率,这为乳酸菌功能基因的快速鉴定及遗传改良提供了可能,但是现有的CRISPR/Cas基因编辑技术在乳酸菌的应用还存在诸多限制。本文综述了CRISPR/Cas基因编辑技术在乳酸菌基因组上的应用现状及亟待解决的问题,并展望了乳酸菌基因组编辑技术的未来发展趋势,为乳酸菌功能基因鉴定及遗传改良提供参考。     

基因组编辑技术及其在昆虫遗传转化中的应用

锌指核酸酶、类转录激活因子式核酸酶和CRISPR/Cas技术是近几年发展起来的3种主要基因组编辑技术,其原理都是通过在生物基因组特定位点制造DNA双链断裂损伤,从而激活机体自身的DNA损伤修复机制,在此过程中引发各种变异。基因组编辑技术已在研究基因功能和基因修复中成功应用,基于基因组编辑技术的诸多优点,如CRISPR/Cas技术能对基因组中多个特定位点进行编辑,其有望成为昆虫遗传转化的主要策略。本文就锌指核酸酶、类转录激活因子式核酸酶和CRISPR/Cas技术的基本原理及其在昆虫中的应用做一简介,为今后利用基因组编辑技术进行昆虫遗传转化提供些许参考。     

CRISPR/Cas植物基因组编辑技术及其在玉米中的应用*

CRISPR/Cas 系统具有操作简单、效率高等优势,为植物功能基因研究和作物遗传改良提供了重要支撑。介绍了CRISPR/Cas植物基因组编辑技术的研究进展,并对CRISPR/Cas系统及其衍生技术进行了详细比较;结合案例综述了CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在玉米产量、品质、抗逆性改良,以及雄性不育系创制和单倍体诱导等方面的应用;同时针对CRISPR/Cas系统未来需要迫切解决的一些问题进行了分析和展望。     

CRISPR/Cas9系统在植物基因组编辑中技术改进与创新的研究进展

CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术是一项对基因组进行精准修饰的技术,可实现对靶标基因的碱基插入、缺失或DNA片段替换。随着人们对CRISPR/Cas9系统的了解逐渐加深,其在科研、农业和医疗等领域的应用也越来越广泛。该文简要介绍了CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术的发展以及工作原理,总结了近几年对该技术进行优化与改进的研究进展,包括基因组编辑效率的提升、基因组编辑范围的扩展、单碱基精准编辑以及多基因同时编辑、基因组编辑安全性的提升以及基因片段替换与基因靶向转录调控,以期为深入开展这一领域的研究提供参考。     

CRISPR/Cas9系统在植物基因组编辑中技术改进与创新的研究进展

CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术是一项对基因组进行精准修饰的技术, 可实现对靶标基因的碱基插入、缺失或DNA片段替换。随着人们对CRISPR/Cas9系统的了解逐渐加深, 其在科研、农业和医疗等领域的应用也越来越广泛。该文简要介绍了CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术的发展以及工作原理, 总结了近几年对该技术进行优化与改进的研究进展, 包括基因组编辑效率的提升、基因组编辑范围的扩展、单碱基精准编辑以及多基因同时编辑、基因组编辑安全性的提升以及基因片段替换与基因靶向转录调控, 以期为深入开展这一领域的研究提供参考。     

CRISPR-Cas系统在植物基因组编辑中的研究进展

基因组定点编辑技术是研究基因功能和生物体改造的重要工具。CRISPR-Cas(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins)系统是近年来发展的一种新型基因组编辑技术,该技术通过一段向导RNA和配套的核酸酶就可对特定的基因组序列进行定点编辑,具有简单高效、应用广泛的特点,受到了生物学家的广泛关注。本文着重介绍CRISPR-Cas系统在植物中的研究进展,包括CRISPR-Cas9系统在植物中的应用与完善、扩大基因组编辑范围的研究、Cas9切口酶和失活酶的拓展、特异性单碱基突变编辑系统的研究、无外源DNA污染的植物基因编辑技术的发展以及基因组编辑技术在作物育种上的应用等方面。同时也提出了还需解决的问题,并展望了基因组编辑系统在作物育种中的应用前景,为开展这一领域的研究工作提供参考。     

基因组编辑技术在昆虫功能基因组研究中的应用

基因组编辑技术是在生物基因组水平上对靶标序列进行定点编辑的一种重要手段。近年来,锌指核酸酶技术(ZFNs)、类转录激活因子核酸酶技术(TALENs)、成簇且规律间隔的短回文重复序列和相关Cas蛋白的DNA核酸内切酶系统(CRISPR/Cas)等基因组编辑技术的相继问世,为功能基因组的研究提供了有效的实验手段。这3种基因组编辑技术的基本工作原理都是通过定点切割基因组DNA双链,从而诱导内源性的修复机制产生定点突变。通过介绍这3种技术的国内外研究现状及发展趋势探讨了基因组编辑技术在昆虫科学中的应用发展前景。     

基因组选择在猪杂交育种中的应用

基因组选择是指在全基因组范围内通过基因组中大量的标记信息估计出个体全基因组范围的育种值,可进一步提升育种效率和准确性,目前在猪纯繁育种中得到广泛应用。但有研究表明,现有的基因组选择方法在猪杂交育种上的应用效果并不理想,在跨群体条件下预测准确性极低。杂交作为养猪业中最为广泛的育种手段之一,通过结合基因组选择理论进一步提升猪的生产性能,具有重要的经济和研究价值。本文综述了基因组选择的发展及其在猪育种中的应用现状,并结合国内外猪杂交育种的方式,分析了目前基因组选择方法在猪杂交育种应用方面的不足,旨在为未来基因组选择在猪杂交育种中的合理应用提供参考。     

基因组编辑技术在植物中的研究进展与应用前景

外源DNA导入细胞并与基因组靶基因发生同源重组可以精确修饰或替换靶基因,但在植物中产生自发同源重组的概率很低.近几年出现的人工改造核酸酶可以大幅提高同源重组的效率,实现基因组的精确、定向改造.其中,归巢核酸酶、锌指核酸酶和TALE核酸酶已在植物基因工程中得到成功应用,最近开发出来的基于CRISPR/Cas系统的基因组编辑技术则更具有高效方便等特点.这些人工核酸酶的应用为植物基因工程的发展呈现了更加美好的前景.首先介绍了基因组编辑技术及其发展历程,随后详细阐述了提高植物基因组定点编辑效率的策略,最后对基因组编辑技术在农业和植物基因工程上的应用进行了展望.     

基因组编辑技术及其在昆虫研究中的应用

基因组编辑技术是进行功能基因组研究的重要工具．锌指核酸酶技术（ZFNs）、类转录激活因子核酸酶技术（TALENs）以及CRISPR／Cas技术是近年来发展起来的3种主流基因组编辑技术．这3种基因组编辑技术的原理都是通过在生物基因组特定位点制造DNA断裂损伤,从而激活机体自身的DNA损伤修复机制,在此过程中引发各种变异．ZFNs是最早发展的通用基因组编辑技术,可用以实施定点敲除和定点敲入变异,但ZFNs技术的发展受限于构建难度大、成本高等缺点．TALENs技术在ZFNs基础上发展而来,较ZFNs技术而言,TALENs技术具备构建灵活度高、成本低等优势．不同于ZFNs与TALENs技术,CRISPR／Cas技术具有独特的DNA靶向机制,这种机制使其非常适合进行多位点编辑．目前,3种技术都在多种物种中成功测试,例如小鼠、斑马鱼、果蝇、线虫和家蚕．在后基因组时代,这些新技术工具必将在未来功能基因组研究中发挥重大作用．     

Genome editing technologies and their applications in crop improvement

Crop improvement is very essential to meet the increasing global food demands and enhance food nutrition. Conventional crop-breeding methods have certain limitations such as taking lot of time and resources, and causing biosafety concerns. These limitations could be overcome by the recently emerged-genome editing technologies that can precisely modify DNA sequences at the genomic level using sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs). Among the artificially engineered SSNs, the CRISPR/Cas9 is the most recently developed targeted genome modification system and seems to be more efficient, inexpensive, easy, user-friendly and rapidly adopted genome-editing tool. Large-scale genome editing has not only improved the yield and quality but also has enhanced the disease resistance ability in several model and other major crops. Increasing case studies suggest that genome editing is an efficient, precise and powerful technology that can accelerate basic and applied research towards crop improvement. In this review, we briefly overviewed the structure and mechanism of genome editing tools and then emphatically reviewed the advances in the application of genome editing tools for crop improvement, including the most recent case studies with CRISPR/Cpf1 and base-editing technologies. We have also discussed the future prospects towards the improvement of agronomic traits in crops.     

Molecular approaches in pig breeding to improve meat quality.

This article reviews the advances in molecular genetics that have led to the identification of genes and markers associated with meat quality in pig. The development of a considerable number of annotated livestock genome sequences represents an incredibly rich source of information that can be used to identify candidate genes responsible for complex traits and quantitative trait loci effects. In pig, the huge amount of information emerging from the study of the genome has helped in the acquisition of new knowledge concerning biological systems and it is opening new opportunities for the genetic selection of this specie. Among the new fields of genomics recently developed, functional genomics and proteomics that allow considering many genes and proteins at the same time are very useful tools for a better understanding of the function and regulation of genes, and how these participate in complex networks controlling the phenotypic characteristics of a trait. In particular, global gene expression profiling at the mRNA and protein level can provide a better understanding of gene regulation that underlies biological functions and physiology related to the delivery of a better pig meat quality. Moreover, the possibility to realize an integrated approach of genomics and proteomics with bioinformatics tools is essential to obtain a complete exploitation of the available molecular genetics information. The development of this knowledge will benefit scientists, industry and breeders considering that the efficiency and accuracy of the traditional pig selection schemes will be improved by the implementation of molecular data into breeding programs.     

Genomics to accelerate genetic improvement in tilapia

Selective breeding of tilapia populations started in the early 1990s and over the past three decades tilapia has become one of the most important farmed freshwater species, being produced in more than 125 countries around the globe. Although genome assemblies have been available since 2011, most of the tilapia industry still depends on classical selection techniques using mass spawning or pedigree information to select for growth traits with reported genetic gains of up to 20% per generation. The involvement of international breeding companies and research institutions has resulted in the rapid development and application of genomic resources in the last few years. GWAS and genomic selection are expected to contribute to uncovering the genetic variants involved in economically relevant traits and increasing the genetic gain in selective breeding programs, respectively. Developments over the next few years will probably focus on achieving a deep understanding of genetic architecture of complex traits, as well as accelerating genetic progress in the selection for growth-, quality- and robustness-related traits. Novel phenotyping technologies (i.e. phenomics), lower-cost whole-genome sequencing approaches, functional genomics and gene editing tools will be crucial in future developments for the improvement of tilapia aquaculture.     

CRISPR-derived genome editing technologies for metabolic engineering

In metabolic engineering, genome editing tools make it much easier to discover and evaluate relevant genes and pathways and construct strains. Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) systems now have become the first choice for genome engineering in many organisms includingindustrially relevant ones. Targeted DNA cleavage by CRISPR-Cas provides variousgenome engineering modes such as indels, replacements, large deletions, knock-in and chromosomal rearrangements, while host-dependent differences in repair pathways need to be considered. The versatility of the CRISPR system has given rise to derivative technologies that complement nuclease-based editing, which causes cytotoxicity especially in microorganisms. Deaminase-mediated base editing installs targeted point mutations with much less toxicity. CRISPRi and CRISPRa can temporarily control gene expression without changing the genomic sequence. Multiplex, combinatorial and large scale editing are made possible by streamlined design and construction of gRNA libraries to further accelerates comprehensive discovery, evaluation and building of metabolic pathways. This review summarizes the technical basis and recent advances in CRISPR-related genome editing tools applied for metabolic engineering purposes, with representative examples of industrially relevant eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.     

工业微生物基因组编辑技术的研究进展

近年来,基因组范围的高效编辑技术发展迅速,对工业微生物基因组的改造效率不断提升,彻底改变了以"一次操作、一个抗性基因、一个修饰位点"为特征的传统遗传操作模式,实现了基因组上多重位点的同步编辑,精确高效且无需抗生素辅助的插入替换或删除,以及大片段基因组DNA的剪切-粘贴等。这些技术的应用,能够高效构建优良性能的生产菌株,必将推动传统发酵产业的革新,促进以新能源和新材料为基础的新型工业生物技术的发展。本文针对这些新技术的原理和特点,结合一些典型应用实例,进行分析和总结,希望能为工业微生物的改造与构建提供参考与借鉴。     

Genome editing methods in animal models

ABSTRACT

Genetically engineered animal models that reproduce human diseases are very important for the pathological study of various conditions. The development of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system has enabled a faster and cheaper production of animal models compared with traditional gene-targeting methods using embryonic stem cells. Genome editing tools based on the CRISPR-Cas9 system are a breakthrough technology that allows the precise introduction of mutations at the target DNA sequences. In particular, this accelerated the creation of animal models, and greatly contributed to the research that utilized them. In this review, we introduce various strategies based on the CRISPR-Cas9 system for building animal models of human diseases and describe various in vivo delivery methods of CRISPR-Cas9 that are applied to disease models for therapeutic purposes. In addition, we summarize the currently available animal models of human diseases that were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and discuss future directions.     

European pig genetic diversity: a minireview

An evaluation of the European pig diversity has been carried on by several countries, with the support of the European Union over the period of 1994 to 2000. This article presents an overview of the results of this investigation, focussing on two genetic marker techniques, namely microsatellites (MS) and amplification of fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Nearly 200 loci were characterised on about 50 individuals from each of 59 to 71 breeds, according to the marker considered. The analysis of diversity, based on genetic distances, led to similar conclusions for the two marker types (MS and AFLP), in spite of a markedly lower total diversity of AFLP compared to MS. The analysis of the MS loci showed that the allelic diversity pattern among breeds was quasi-independent from the diversity pattern based on allele frequencies. Genetic distances showed no particular clustering of local with international breeds, confirming the genetic uniqueness of the European local breeds compared to mainstream international breeds. The taxonomy of the local breeds revealed a cluster of the Iberian type breeds, in contrast with a wider dispersal of the breeds from other countries. Phylogeny often disagreed with documented breeds' history, showing the complex migration/admixture patterns which underlie the breeds' relationships. Methodologies developed in this investigation as well as the database and the DNA depository created should provide support for further innovative research in the field of domestic animal diversity management.     

Algorithmic approaches for identification of RNA editing sites.

Recently a number of groups have introduced computational methods for the detection of A-to-I RNA editing sites. These approaches have resulted in finding thousands of editing sites within the genomic repeats, as well as a few novel genetic recoding sites. We review these recent advancements, emphasizing the principles underlying the various methods used. Possible directions for extending these methods are discussed.