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An Agrobacterium-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system for high-frequency targeted mutagenesis in maize
Plant Biotechnology Journal
  • Si Nian Char, Iowa State University
  • Anjanasree K. Neelakandan, Iowa State University
  • Hartinio Nahampun, Iowa State University
  • Bronwyn Frame, Iowa State University
  • Marcy Main, Iowa State University
  • Martin H. Spalding, Iowa State University
  • Philip W. Becraft, Iowa State University
  • Blake C. Meyers, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
  • Virginia Walbot, Stanford University
  • Kan Wang, Iowa State University
  • Bing Yang, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
2-1-2017
DOI
10.1111/pbi.12611
Abstract

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool in many organisms, including a number of monocots and dicots. Although the design and application of CRISPR/Cas9 is simpler compared to other nuclease-based genome editing tools, optimization requires the consideration of the DNA delivery and tissue regeneration methods for a particular species to achieve accuracy and efficiency. Here, we describe a public sector system, ISU Maize CRISPR, utilizing Agrobacterium-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 for high-frequency targeted mutagenesis in maize. This system consists of an Escherichia coli cloning vector and an Agrobacterium binary vector. It can be used to clone up to four guide RNAs for single or multiplex gene targeting. We evaluated this system for its mutagenesis frequency and heritability using four maize genes in two duplicated pairs: Argonaute 18 (ZmAgo18a and ZmAgo18b) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase or anthocyaninlessgenes (a1 and a4). T0 transgenic events carrying mono- or diallelic mutations of one locus and various combinations of allelic mutations of two loci occurred at rates over 70% mutants per transgenic events in both Hi-II and B104 genotypes. Through genetic segregation, null segregants carrying only the desired mutant alleles without the CRISPR transgene could be generated in T1 progeny. Inheritance of an active CRISPR/Cas9 transgene leads to additional target-specific mutations in subsequent generations. Duplex infection of immature embryos by mixing two individual Agrobacterium strains harbouring different Cas9/gRNA modules can be performed for improved cost efficiency. Together, the findings demonstrate that the ISU Maize CRISPR platform is an effective and robust tool to targeted mutagenesis in maize.

Comments

This article is from Plant Biotechnology Journal, Volume 15, Issue 2, pages 257–268, February 2017, doi:10.1111/pbi.12611. Posted with permission.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Si Nian Char, Anjanasree K. Neelakandan, Hartinio Nahampun, Bronwyn Frame, et al.. "An Agrobacterium-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system for high-frequency targeted mutagenesis in maize" Plant Biotechnology Journal Vol. 15 Iss. 2 (2017) p. 257 - 268
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/martin-spalding/1/