Targeted insertion of large DNA sequences by homology-directed repair or non-homologous end joining in engineered tobacco BY-2 cells using designed zinc finger nucleases.

Targeted integration of recombinant DNA fragments into plant genomes by DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair mechanisms has become a powerful tool for precision engineering of crops. However, many targeting platforms require the screening of many transgenic events to identify a low number of targeted events among many more random insertion events. We developed an engineered transgene integration platform (ETIP) that uses incomplete marker genes at the insertion site to enable rapid phenotypic screening and recovery of targeted events upon functional reconstitution of the marker genes.

Development of an activation tagging system for maize.

Activation Tagging, distributing transcriptional enhancers throughout the genome to induce transcription of nearby genes, is a powerful tool for discovering the function of genes in plants. We have developed a transposable element system to distribute a novel activation tagging element throughout the genome of maize. The transposon system is built from the Enhancer/Suppressor (/) transposon system and uses an engineered seed color marker to show when the transposon excises.

Zinc finger nuclease-mediated targeting of multiple transgenes to an endogenous soybean genomic locus via non-homologous end joining.

Emerging genome editing technologies hold great promise for the improvement of agricultural crops. Several related genome editing methods currently in development utilize engineered, sequence-specific endonucleases to generate DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) at user-specified genomic loci. These DSBs subsequently result in small insertions/deletions (indels), base substitutions or incorporation of exogenous donor sequences at the target site, depending on the application.

The cotton centromere contains a Ty3-gypsy-like LTR retroelement.

The centromere is a repeat-rich structure essential for chromosome segregation; with the long-term aim of understanding centromere structure and function, we set out to identify cotton centromere sequences. To isolate centromere-associated sequences from cotton, (Gossypium hirsutum) we surveyed tandem and dispersed repetitive DNA in the genus. Centromere-associated elements in other plants include tandem repeats and, in some cases, centromere-specific retroelements.

The genome of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca).

The woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca (2n = 2x = 14), is a versatile experimental plant system. This diminutive herbaceous perennial has a small genome (240 Mb), is amenable to genetic transformation and shares substantial sequence identity with the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) and other economically important rosaceous plants. Here we report the draft F.