Unveiling the Hidden Impacts: New Research Probes Site-Specific DNA Recombination in Plants
As the global population grows and arable land dwindles, the need for efficient crop production becomes increasingly critical. Genetic engineering offers a powerful toolkit to enhance yields and improve nutritional quality in food crops. One common approach involves introducing desirable genes into plants to bestow new traits, such as pest resistance or increased vitamin content.
However, this process sometimes leaves behind unnecessary DNA, raising concerns about potential hazards to the host plant, the environment, and human health. Researchers are diligently exploring methods to remove this extraneous genetic material, with site-specific DNA recombinases emerging as promising tools.
Dr. Hong Luo, a professor in Clemson University’s Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, has secured a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to delve into the potential unintended consequences of three widely used site-specific recombinases – Cre, FLP and PhiC31.
"The unnecessary DNA that gets into the transgenic plants with the target gene needs to be removed," Luo explained.
Site-specific recombinases act like molecular scissors, recognizing specific DNA sequences and precisely excising the targeted DNA. While this technology holds immense promise for refining genetically modified crops, previous research by Dr. Luo hinted at unforeseen side effects.
"This is a very interesting phenomenon. Over the years, we’ve been using recombinase to remove unnecessary DNA from transgenic products to ensure they are environmentally safe. But we didn’t realize using the recombinase for this purpose came with these kinds of side effects," he said.
His team observed that introducing certain bacterial recombinase genes into plants sometimes led to unintended plant growth modifications, both positive and negative. These findings underscore the need for a deeper understanding of how these powerful tools interact with the intricate biology of plants.
This new research will focus on examining the impact of Cre, FLP, and PhiC31 in two distinct plant species: creeping bentgrass, an economically important perennial grass, and Arabidopsis, a widely studied model plant. By comparing these two species, researchers can identify any species-specific responses to the recombinases.
"This will give us an idea about what aspects those recombinases impact in which particular plant species," Luo said.
The research team will meticulously analyze the genomes, epigenomes, and observable characteristics (phenotypes) of both transgenic and non-transgenic plants. They aim to determine whether the recombinases induce any unintended modifications in gene expression or trigger unforeseen biological pathways.
Dr. Luo emphasizes the significance of his work for regulatory agencies tasked with assessing the safety and efficacy of biotechnology.
"The research will provide information for regulatory agencies to assess site-specific recombination system-related biotechnology strategies developed for transgene excision and containment," he explained. "The research could also identify which site-specific recombination systems work best in various species to increase yield while preventing unintended environmental problems.”
The investigation promises to shed light on the complex interplay between genetic manipulation and plant biology, paving the way for more informed and responsible development of biotechnology for food security and environmental sustainability.
