Advances in cis-element- and natural variation-mediated transcriptional regulation and applications in gene editing of major crops

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany 2023-09, Vol.74 (18), p.5441-5457
• Main Authors: Cui, Yue, Cao, Qiao, Li, Yongpeng, He, Mingqi, Liu, Xigang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad248

Abstract Transcriptional regulation is crucial to control of gene expression. Both spatio-temporal expression patterns and expression levels of genes are determined by the interaction between cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors. Numerous studies have focused on the trans-acting factors that mediate transcriptional regulatory networks. However, cis-acting elements, such as enhancers, silencers, transposons, and natural variations in the genome, are also vital for gene expression regulation and could be utilized by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-mediated gene editing to improve crop quality and yield. In this review, we discuss current understanding of cis-element-mediated transcriptional regulation in major crops, including rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays), as well as the latest advancements in gene editing techniques and their applications in crops to highlight prospective strategies for crop breeding. Advanced understanding of multiple cis-element- and natural variation-mediated gene transcriptional regulation mechanisms will facilitate the application of the fast-developing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technique during molecular breeding to improve crop yield.