Mobility-enhanced virus vectors enable meristem genome editing in model and crop plants
Authors: Chiu, K. T., Higgs, H., Antunes, M. S., Lin, Y. T., McGarry, R. C.
Date: 2025-11-19 · Version: 1
DOI: 10.1101/2025.11.19.689159 Category: Plant Biology
Model Organism: Nicotiana benthamiana
▶ AI Summary
The study engineered Tobacco rattle virus vectors incorporating distinct RNA secondary structures as mobility factors to improve guide RNA delivery to plant meristems. Using Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing Cas9, optimal virus constructs were identified that generated both somatic and heritable edits, and these constructs were successfully applied to edit the emerging oilseed crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense).
CRISPR/Cas9 Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) RNA mobility factors meristem editing virus-mediated gRNA delivery