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Improving cassava bacterial blight resistance by editing the epigenome

Author

Listed:
  • Kira M. Veley

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Kiona Elliott

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
    Washington University in Saint Louis)

  • Greg Jensen

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Zhenhui Zhong

    (University of California at Los Angeles)

  • Suhua Feng

    (University of California at Los Angeles
    University of Hawaii at Manoa)

  • Marisa Yoder

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Kerrigan B. Gilbert

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Jeffrey C. Berry

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Zuh-Jyh Daniel Lin

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Basudev Ghoshal

    (University of California at Los Angeles
    Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

  • Javier Gallego-Bartolomé

    (University of California at Los Angeles
    CSIC-Universidad Politécnica de Valencia)

  • Joanna Norton

    (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

  • Sharon Motomura-Wages

    (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

  • James C. Carrington

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Steven E. Jacobsen

    (University of California at Los Angeles
    University of California at Los Angeles
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at Los Angeles)

  • Rebecca S. Bart

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

Abstract

Pathogens rely on expression of host susceptibility (S) genes to promote infection and disease. As DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that affects gene expression, blocking access to S genes through targeted methylation could increase disease resistance. Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis, the causal agent of cassava bacterial blight (CBB), uses transcription activator-like20 (TAL20) to induce expression of the S gene MeSWEET10a. In this work, we direct methylation to the TAL20 effector binding element within the MeSWEET10a promoter using a synthetic zinc-finger DNA binding domain fused to a component of the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway. We demonstrate that this methylation prevents TAL20 binding, blocks transcriptional activation of MeSWEET10a in vivo and that these plants display decreased CBB symptoms while maintaining normal growth and development. This work therefore presents an epigenome editing approach useful for crop improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Kira M. Veley & Kiona Elliott & Greg Jensen & Zhenhui Zhong & Suhua Feng & Marisa Yoder & Kerrigan B. Gilbert & Jeffrey C. Berry & Zuh-Jyh Daniel Lin & Basudev Ghoshal & Javier Gallego-Bartolomé & Joa, 2023. "Improving cassava bacterial blight resistance by editing the epigenome," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-35675-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35675-7
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