RNA Viral Vectors for Accelerating Plant Synthetic Biology

Overview

Journal Front Plant Sci

Date 2021 Jul 12

PMID 34249040

Citations 7

Authors

Arjun Khakhar

Daniel F Voytas

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The tools of synthetic biology have enormous potential to help us uncover the fundamental mechanisms controlling development and metabolism in plants. However, their effective utilization typically requires transgenesis, which is plagued by long timescales and high costs. In this review we explore how transgenesis can be minimized by delivering foreign genetic material to plants with systemically mobile and persistent vectors based on RNA viruses. We examine the progress that has been made thus far and highlight the hurdles that need to be overcome and some potential strategies to do so. We conclude with a discussion of biocontainment mechanisms to ensure these vectors can be used safely as well as how these vectors might expand the accessibility of plant synthetic biology techniques. RNA vectors stand poised to revolutionize plant synthetic biology by making genetic manipulation of plants cheaper and easier to deploy, as well as by accelerating experimental timescales from years to weeks.

Citing Articles

RNAi and genome editing of sugarcane: Progress and prospects.

Brant E, Zuniga-Soto E, Altpeter F Plant J. 2025; 121(5):e70048.

PMID: 40051334 PMC: 11886501. DOI: 10.1111/tpj.70048.

Rapid and efficient in planta genome editing in sorghum using foxtail mosaic virus-mediated sgRNA delivery.

Baysal C, Kausch A, Cody J, Altpeter F, Voytas D Plant J. 2024; 121(2):e17196.

PMID: 39661735 PMC: 11771572. DOI: 10.1111/tpj.17196.

Robust soybean leaf agroinfiltration.

Trull B, Sultana M, Pfotenhauer A, Stockdale J, Pantalone V, Zhang B Plant Cell Rep. 2024; 43(6):162.

PMID: 38837057 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03245-4.

Foxtail mosaic virus: A tool for gene function analysis in maize and other monocots.

Beernink B, Whitham S Mol Plant Pathol. 2023; 24(7):811-822.

PMID: 37036421 PMC: 10257046. DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13330.

Construction of a mini-RNA replicon in .

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