Scientists report six new variants of CRISPR-Cas12a in plants

The purpose of the genetic study published in the journal Nature Communications — increasing efficiency

food production.Recent work by Yiping Qi introduces six new CRISPR-Cas12a variants. They had not previously been tested on plants, and scientists first used rice. The fact is that it is one of the main grain crops in the world. The work will allow not only to expand the goals of gene editing, but also to simultaneously edit many different parts of it. In addition, the technology will make it possible to suppress gene expression to eliminate undesirable traits in crops. Proprietary tools greatly expand the capabilities of CRISPR-Cas12a in plants. This will lead to more efficient food production. Experts hope in this way to solve the problem of hunger of the growing population of the Earth.

Cas12a (like other CRISPR systems) is usuallytied to a specific short DNA sequence known as the PAM sequence. It is used by CRISPR to locate molecular cuts in DNA. However, the new Mb2Cas12a variant presented by Iping Qi works with weakened PAM requirements. This expands the scope of the material for editing.

In addition to this discovery, the systemmultiplexed editing, introduced for Cas12a in plants, provides specific strategies for the simultaneous efficient editing of multiple regions in the genome.

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PAM (English protospacer adjacent motif - motif adjacent to protospacer).

CRISPR - special loci of bacteria and archaea,consisting of straight repeating sequences separated by unique sequences. Spacers are borrowed from foreign genetic elements that the cell has encountered.