CRISPR-Cas9 was used for the mutagenesis of seed storage protein genes in
soybean as reported by Western University scientist Chenlong Li and
colleagues in BMC Research Notes. Soybean seeds are valuable source of
proteins for food and feed globally. Storage proteins conglycininc and
glycinins, encoded by a small family of genes, account for total soy seed
protein. Mutant versions of these genes are vital in soybean breeding
programs since the relative abundance of the protein subunits impacts amino
acid composition and food properties.



The researchers tested the efficiency of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in editing
storage protein genes using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root
transformation system. They designed and tested single guide RNAs to target
nice genes and detected DNA mutations in three genes in soybean hairy roots
with ratio ranging from 3.8 to 43.7 percent.

The results of the study can be used as a resource of soybean breeders in
developing soybean varieties with mutations in seed storage proteins.

[bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com]