Genome editing technology has revolutionized agriculture, bringing market-ready innovations such as high oleic soybean, low pungency mustard greens, and high GABA tomatoes. The potential of this technology to enhance agricultural sustainability is immense.
In a pioneering study, researchers from the ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack, headed by Kutubuddin A. Molla have developed a miniature plant genome editor that is only one-third the size of the widely used Cas9. This new genome editor protein, derived from the transposon-associated TnpB of Deinococcus radiodurans, has proven highly effective in editing multiple genes in both monocot rice and dicot Arabidopsis.
Like Cas9, which requires a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) for targeting, TnpB requires a transposon-associated motif (TAM) adjacent to the target sequence. TnpB can target unique regions in the genome that Cas9 cannot, adding a new dimension to genome editing capabilities.
The study, published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, showcases TnpB as a hypercompact, versatile and promising tool for plant genome engineering, marking a significant advancement in the field.
Traditionally, the SpCas9 nuclease, with its substantial size of around 1350 amino acids, has been the most widely used tool for genome editing. However, its large size poses significant challenges, particularly for effective delivery inside cells, especially through viral vectors. Reducing the size of RNA-guided genome editing nucleases is a critical goal to overcome these limitations. Smaller nucleases not only improve delivery efficiency but also facilitate the creation of fusion proteins, broadening the scope of genome engineering applications.
Genetically Engineered Black Flies to Reduce Waste and Keep it Out of Landfills
August 7, 2024
A Macquarie University team proposes using genetically engineered black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) to address worldwide pollution challenges and produce valuable raw materials for industry, including the US$500 billion global animal feed market.
In a new paper published in the journal Communications Biology, scientists at Macquarie University outline a future where engineered flies could transform waste management and sustainable biomanufacturing, addressing multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Synthetic biologist Dr Kate Tepper is lead author of the paper and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University.
“One of the great challenges in developing circular economies is making high-value products that can be produced from waste,” says Dr Tepper.
Black soldier flies are already valued in waste management where they consume commercial organic waste before being processed as ‘insect biomass’ into foods for domestic pets and for commercial chicken and fish farmers. But the Macquarie team believes genetic engineering could extend the usefulness of the black soldier fly, enabling them to turn waste inputs into enhanced animal feeds or valuable industrial raw materials.
Engineering insects to make industrial enzymes and lipids that are not used in food supply chains will expand the types of organic wastes that can be used, which adds utility to lower-grade organic wastes. Genetically engineered microbes require sterile environments to prevent contamination, along with lots of water and refined nutrient inputs.
“We can feed black soldier flies straight, dirty trash rather than sterilised or thoroughly pre-processed [trash]. When it is just chopped into smaller pieces, black soldier flies will consume large volumes of waste a lot faster than microbes,” Dr Maselko says.
The researchers suggest genetic engineering could piggyback on the existing infrastructure for large-scale black soldier fly farming, elevating the flies from simple waste processors to high-tech biomanufacturing platforms. In the paper, the researchers outline a roadmap calling for better genetic engineering tools for key insects.
Commercialisation of black soldier fly biomanufacturing is already underway through a Macquarie University spin-out company, EntoZyme.
