Crispr/cas9 chromosome engineering for crop improvement
Novel CRISPR/Cas9-based approach for targeted chromosome remodelling in crops. Uses guide RNAs targeting repeated sequences to trigger inversions, rearrangements, and restructuring of crop chromosomes, enabling accelerated strain improvement and breeding.
Overview
This research programme harnesses CRISPR/Cas9 technology for chromosome engineering in crop species. While CRISPR/Cas9 is widely used for gene knockouts, this work extends the technology to direct large-scale chromosome remodelling by deploying guide RNAs against repeated sequences with hundreds to thousands of target sites. The approach enables targeted inversions, rearrangements, and restructuring of crop chromosomes, offering new tools for strain improvement and breeding programmes.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- CRISPR/Cas9 guide RNAs designed to target chromosome-specific repeat polymorphisms, enabling precise centromere and chromosome remodelling
- Capability to generate major karyotypic changes including iso-chromosomes and mini-chromosomes
- Validated using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosome structure analysis
- Strategy adaptable to vegetable crop species of interest, including telomere-to-telomere genome assembly where needed
- Tailored guide RNA design for both loss-of-function lines and complex genome rearrangements such as inversions
How it works:
The team has demonstrated in Arabidopsis that CRISPR guide RNAs targeting centromere-specific repeat sequences (such as CRISPR-CEN178) can trigger dramatic chromosome rearrangements. Sequencing coverage analysis shows targeted loss of centromere satellite arrays while non-targeted centromeres remain unchanged, confirming specificity. This approach is now being translated into crop species through collaborative design of species-specific CRISPR strategies.
Technology readiness level
The technology has reached proof-of-principle validation in Arabidopsis, with demonstrated karyotypic changes confirmed by FISH and genomic sequencing. The programme is now ready for translation into crop species through partnership-driven development. Future work includes genomic DNA extraction, long-read Nanopore sequencing, genome assembly, and tailored CRISPR guide RNA design to meet partner-specific breeding and genetic improvement objectives.
About University of Cambridge
Cambridge is a collegiate, comprehensive research university that combines broad academic depth with world-class facilities and strong translational activity. Industry engages through co-located labs, a major biomedical campus integrated with an NHS hospital system, and research and technology parks across the Cambridge cluster. Its location in a mature startup and scale-up ecosystem provides ready access to venture funding, prototyping resources, and collaboration with global R&D sites. Research is backed by competitive UKRI council funding and other national sources, with additional support from major charities and European programs. A dedicated technology transfer office supports IP, licensing, and seed investment to accelerate commercialization.
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