New plant breeding strategies based on whole-plant RNA delivery and data mining (RNAbreed)

Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEO CIPROM/2022/21

In RNAbreed, we propose a completely novel approach to plant breeding that consists of transient gene expression regulation in crops by designer regulatory RNAs delivered at the whole-plant level using RNA virus-derived vectors.First, we will design RNA-based gene expression regulators based on CRISPR, ribozyme and RNA interference principles. Second, we will deliver the RNA regulators to adult plants using viral RNA vectors. Third, we will analyze global changes in gene expression and will use the results to feedback the design process to improve the performance of our RNA regulators. Finally, we will apply our better designs to crop plants to improve stress tolerance, nutritional value, resistance to pests and pathogens, and production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

A new and efficient pathway for the expression of circRNAs in plants and animals through non-coding retroelements with self-cleaving ribozymes.

Viral vector-based delivery of RNA regulators in plants.

Structure of SAM and scRNA types of programmable gene expression regulators.

Schematic example of a ScissCirc (circular RNA in black) carrying trans-cleaving ribozymes against the GFP mRNA (in green)