Martin, Joel A. | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2022

Silencing of Dicer‐like protein 2a restores the resistance phenotype in the rice mutant, sxi4 ( suppressor of Xa21‐mediated immunity 4 )

SUMMARY The rice immune receptor XA21 confers resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae ( Xoo ), and upon recognition of the RaxX21‐sY peptide produced by Xoo , XA21 activates the plant immune response. Here we screened 21 000 mutant plants expressing XA21 to identify components involved in this response, and reported here the identification of a rice mutant, sxi4, which is susceptible to Xoo. The sxi4 mutant carries a 32‐kb translocation from chromosome 3 onto chromosome 7 and displays an elevated level of DCL2a transcript, encoding a Dicer‐like protein . Silencing of DCL2a in the sxi4 genetic background restores resistance to Xoo . RaxX21‐sY peptide‐treated leaves of sxi4 retain the hallmarks of XA21‐mediated immune response. However, WRKY45‐1 , a known negative regulator of rice resistance to Xoo , is induced in the sxi4 mutant in response to RaxX21‐sY peptide treatment. A CRISPR knockout of a short interfering RNA (TE‐siRNA815) in the intron of WRKY45‐1 restores the resistance phenotype in sxi4 . These results suggest a model where DCL2a accumulation negatively regulates XA21‐mediated immunity by altering the processing of TE‐siRNA815.

Liu, Furong↗

DOE OSTI2020

Marker-free carotenoid-enriched rice generated through targeted gene insertion using CRISPR-Cas9

Targeted insertion of transgenes at pre-determined plant genomic safe harbors provides a desirable alternative to insertions at random sites achieved through conventional methods. Most existing cases of targeted gene insertion in plants have either relied on the presence of a selectable marker gene in the insertion cassette or occurred at low frequency with relatively small DNA fragments (<1.8 kb). Here, we report the use of an optimized CRISPR-Cas9-based method to achieve the targeted insertion of a 5.2 kb carotenoid biosynthesis cassette at two genomic safe harbors in rice. We obtain marker-free rice plants with high carotenoid content in the seeds and no detectable penalty in morphology or yield. Whole-genome sequencing reveals the absence of off-target mutations by Cas9 in the engineered plants. These results demonstrate targeted gene insertion of marker-free DNA in rice using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and offer a promising strategy for genetic improvement of rice and other crops.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗