10.3389/fpls.2018.00559.s003
Xindi Li
Xindi
Li
Yanning Wang
Yanning
Wang
Sha Chen
Sha
Chen
Huiqin Tian
Huiqin
Tian
Daqi Fu
Daqi
Fu
Benzhong Zhu
Benzhong
Zhu
Yunbo Luo
Yunbo
Luo
Hongliang Zhu
Hongliang
Zhu
Image_2_Lycopene Is Enriched in Tomato Fruit by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Multiplex Genome Editing.TIF
Frontiers
2018
lycopene
CRISPR/Cas9 system
genome editing
tomato fruits
carotenoid metabolic pathway
2018-04-26 04:20:23
Figure
https://frontiersin.figshare.com/articles/figure/Image_2_Lycopene_Is_Enriched_in_Tomato_Fruit_by_CRISPR_Cas9-Mediated_Multiplex_Genome_Editing_TIF/6187601
<p>Numerous studies have been focusing on breeding tomato plants with enhanced lycopene accumulation, considering its positive effects of fruits on the visual and functional properties. In this study, we used a bidirectional strategy: promoting the biosynthesis of lycopene, while inhibiting the conversion from lycopene to β- and α-carotene. The accumulation of lycopene was promoted by knocking down some genes associated with the carotenoid metabolic pathway. Finally, five genes were selected to be edited in genome by CRISPR/Cas9 system using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Our findings indicated that CRISPR/Cas9 is a site-specific genome editing technology that allows highly efficient target mutagenesis in multiple genes of interest. Surprisingly, the lycopene content in tomato fruit subjected to genome editing was successfully increased to about 5.1-fold. The homozygous mutations were stably transmitted to subsequent generations. Taken together, our results suggest that CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used for significantly improving lycopene content in tomato fruit with advantages such as high efficiency, rare off-target mutations, and stable heredity.</p>