An inducible genome editing system for plants (bioRxiv)

Multiple approaches like T-DNA insertion and small RNA- and CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene silencing/knockdown are used to alter the expression of specific genes. This allows researchers to understand gene function during plant development or under any physiological condition. The most challenging task in these approaches is achieving tissue-specific knockdown of gene expression. In this paper, Wang et al. have developed an expression-inducible CRISPR/Cas9 construct that allows gene editing in a tissue and growth stage-specific manner. Successful editing of the PLT (PLETHORA) gene in the apical meristem was achieved using an inducible Cas9 construct and a tissue-specific promoter like WOX5 or SCR to express the guide RNAs. Thus the inducible genome editing system can be used to edit genes at the desired spatiotemporal growth stage of plants. (Summary by Suresh Damodaran)  bioRxiv  10.1101/779140