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Title: A screening method to identify efficient sgRNAs in Arabidopsis, used in conjunction with cell-specific lignin reduction

Journal Article · · Biotechnology for Biofuels
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [3];  [3]
  1. Joint BioEnergy Inst. (JBEI), Emeryville, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Joint BioEnergy Inst. (JBEI), Emeryville, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  3. Joint BioEnergy Inst. (JBEI), Emeryville, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

Single guide RNA (sgRNA) selection is important for the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. However, in plants, the rules governing selection are not well established. We developed a facile transient assay to screen sgRNA efficiency. We then used it to test top-performing bioinformatically predicted sgRNAs for two different Arabidopsis genes. In our assay, these sgRNAs had vastly different editing efficiencies, and these efficiencies were replicated in stably transformed Arabidopsis lines. One of the genes, hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT), is an essential gene, required for lignin biosynthesis. Previously, HCT function has been studied using gene silencing. Here, to avoid the negative growth effects that are due to the loss of HCT activity in xylem vessels, we used a fiber-specific promoter to drive CAS9 expression. Two independent transgenic lines showed the expected lignin decrease. Successful editing was confirmed via the observation of mutations at the HCT target loci, as well as an approximately 90% decrease in HCT activity. Histochemical analysis and a normal growth phenotype support the fiber-specific knockout of HCT. For the targeting of the second gene, Golgi-localized nucleotide sugar transporter2 (GONST2), a highly efficient sgRNA drastically increased the rate of germline editing in T1 generation. This screening method is widely applicable, and the selection and use of efficient sgRNAs will accelerate the process of expanding germplasm for both molecular breeding and research. In addition, this, to the best of our knowledge, is the first application of constrained genome editing to obtain chimeric plants of essential genes, thereby providing a dominant method to avoid lethal growth phenotypes.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; DEAC0205CH11231
OSTI ID:
1618754
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1526557
Journal Information:
Biotechnology for Biofuels, Vol. 12, Issue 1; ISSN 1754-6834
Publisher:
BioMed CentralCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Endoribonuclease-Based Two-Component Repressor Systems for Tight Gene Expression Control in Plants journal February 2017
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Genome-wide binding of the CRISPR endonuclease Cas9 in mammalian cells journal April 2014
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The Golgi localized bifunctional UDP-rhamnose/UDP-galactose transporter family of Arabidopsis journal July 2014
Systemic acquired silencing: transgene-specific post-transcriptional silencing is transmitted by grafting from silenced stocks to non-silenced scions journal August 1997
Genome-Wide Prediction of Highly Specific Guide RNA Spacers for CRISPR–Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing in Model Plants and Major Crops journal May 2014
CRISPR-P: A Web Tool for Synthetic Single-Guide RNA Design of CRISPR-System in Plants journal September 2014
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Refined sgRNA efficacy prediction improves large- and small-scale CRISPR–Cas9 applications journal December 2017
Analysis of the aphthovirus 2A/2B polyprotein ‘cleavage’ mechanism indicates not a proteolytic reaction, but a novel translational effect: a putative ribosomal ‘skip’ journal May 2001
Viral RNA silencing suppressors inhibit the microRNA pathway at an intermediate step journal May 2004
A CRISPR/Cas9 Toolbox for Multiplexed Plant Genome Editing and Transcriptional Regulation journal August 2015
Vessel-Specific Reintroduction of CINNAMOYL-COA REDUCTASE1 (CCR1) in Dwarfed ccr1 Mutants Restores Vessel and Xylary Fiber Integrity and Increases Biomass journal November 2017
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Silencing of Hydroxycinnamoyl-Coenzyme A Shikimate/Quinate Hydroxycinnamoyltransferase Affects Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis journal May 2004
SND1, a NAC Domain Transcription Factor, Is a Key Regulator of Secondary Wall Synthesis in Fibers of Arabidopsis journal November 2006
Abnormal Glycosphingolipid Mannosylation Triggers Salicylic Acid–Mediated Responses in Arabidopsis journal May 2013
Collapsed Xylem Phenotype of Arabidopsis Identifies Mutants Deficient in Cellulose Deposition in the Secondary Cell Wall journal May 1997
Breeding with rare defective alleles (BRDA): a natural Populus nigra HCT mutant with modified lignin as a case study journal February 2013
Engineering secondary cell wall deposition in plants journal November 2012
Tailoring lignin biosynthesis for efficient and sustainable biofuel production journal September 2014
RNA-guided transcriptional regulation in planta via synthetic dCas9-based transcription factors journal November 2014
Expression of a bacterial 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase reduces lignin content and improves biomass saccharification efficiency journal January 2015
Engineering canker-resistant plants through CRISPR/Cas9-targeted editing of the susceptibility gene CsLOB1 promoter in citrus journal May 2017
A Cas9-guide RNA complex preorganized for target DNA recognition journal June 2015
C2c2 is a single-component programmable RNA-guided RNA-targeting CRISPR effector journal June 2016
Production of hydroxycinnamoyl anthranilates from glucose in Escherichia coli journal January 2013
Egg cell-specific promoter-controlled CRISPR/Cas9 efficiently generates homozygous mutants for multiple target genes in Arabidopsis in a single generation journal July 2015
Improving total saccharification yield of Arabidopsis plants by vessel-specific complementation of caffeoyl shikimate esterase (cse) mutants journal July 2016
Gene stacking of multiple traits for high yield of fermentable sugars in plant biomass journal January 2018
An Arabidopsis Tissue-Specific RNAi Method for Studying Genes Essential to Mitosis journal December 2012
Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Editing in Arabidopsis thaliana and Inheritance of Modified Genes in the T2 and T3 Generations journal June 2014
CRISPRpred: A flexible and efficient tool for sgRNAs on-target activity prediction in CRISPR/Cas9 systems journal August 2017
Genome Editing in Cotton with the CRISPR/Cas9 System journal August 2017
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Improving total saccharification yield of Arabidopsis plants by vessel-specific complementation of caffeoyl shikimate esterase (cse) mutants collection January 2016
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