中国科研人员开发新型碱基编辑系统助水稻精准改良

Core Viewpoint - The research team at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has developed a new base editing system based on the domestically developed gene editing tool Cas12i3, which has unique advantages over foreign tools, including a smaller size and broader editing applicability [1] Group 1: Development of Gene Editing Tools - The Cas12i3 gene editing tool has been successfully utilized to create new herbicide-resistant rice germplasm [1] - The adenine base editor based on Cas12i3 has not yet been successfully developed, while the cytosine base editor shows low editing efficiency in plants [1] - Developing an efficient base editing system based on Cas12i3 is significant for enriching China's breeding technology toolbox [1] Group 2: Performance of the New Base Editing System - The research team constructed five different versions of base editors and evaluated their editing efficiency [1] - One specific architecture combining two functional units showed optimal performance, significantly enhancing adenine and cytosine base editing efficiency and expanding the editing window [1] - In stable genetically modified rice plants, the optimized base editing tool can increase the original editing efficiency by 4.78 times for adenine and 3.35 times for cytosine [1] Group 3: Implications and Recognition - This research provides important tools and technical support for crop gene function analysis and precise genetic improvement [1] - The related research results have been published in the international academic journal "Journal of Plant Biology" [1]