AI designs new gene-editing tools that work in plants and beyond
Skopintsev P, Esain-Garcia I, DeTurk EC, Yoon PH, Zhou Z
Crispr
Compact gene-editing tools like these could one day let breeders tweak disease resistance or drought tolerance in crops and garden plants without needing the bulkier CRISPR systems used today.
Researchers took a small natural protein that bacteria use to cut DNA and had an AI redesign it into dozens of new versions, almost like generating variations on a recipe. Many of these AI-made proteins worked just as well, or better, than the original at editing genes in bacteria, plants, and human cells. Because this protein is so small and easy to deliver into cells, having a whole toolkit of working versions gives scientists more flexible options for editing genes in living things, including plants.
Key Findings
Researchers used an AI inverse-folding model combined with evolutionary data to design new variants of TnpB, a compact CRISPR-Cas12-like nuclease, calling them SynTnpBs.
High-throughput screening found several AI-generated variants matched or exceeded the gene-editing activity of the natural enzyme in bacterial, plant, and human cells.
Cryo-electron microscopy of the most divergent synthetic variant revealed new stabilizing contacts in its RNA-DNA binding interface, confirming the design approach produces functional, non-natural nucleases.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists used AI to design brand-new gene-editing proteins from scratch, based on a tiny natural enzyme called TnpB, and showed these synthetic versions work in bacteria, plants, and human cells, some even better than the original.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Structure and evolution-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases.
The design of RNA-guided nucleases with properties not limited by evolution can expand programmable genome-editing capabilities. However, generating diverse multidomain proteins with robust enzymat...
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Crop-improvement refers to the systematic enhancement of plant varieties through selective breeding, genetic modification, and biotechnological approaches to develop cultivars with superior agronomic, nutritional, or environmental traits. This field is essential for addressing global food security,
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