Directed Plant Genome Restructuring

通过利用基于CRISPR/Cas的工具，在改善作物个体性状方面取得了巨大进展。然而，该技术尚未开发的潜力，当利用时，将导致以更加全球化的方式优化植物基因组。该项目旨在通过建立基于改进的CRISPR/Cas工具箱的染色体工程和染色体消除的复杂方法来建立全基因组重组的新方法。该项目将把植物细胞学从描述性科学转变为形成性科学。我们计划在不同水平上操纵植物基因组：我们不仅努力改变重组死亡着丝粒的染色体位置，以重定向减数分裂交换。我们还计划通过诱导连续的整臂易位来确定染色体大小的上限和下限。此外，我们的目标是构建携带可用作货物染色体的功能性着丝粒的迷你染色体。通过诱导染色体融合和分裂，我们计划增加和减少染色体数量。此外，这些项目将详细说明需要哪些连续的染色体重组（CR）来实现完全的遗传隔离，以创造新物种。此外，我们的目标是开发技术，消除单染色体，甚至完整的父母染色体组，在植物杂交中的序列特异性着丝粒破坏。这将使我们能够建立新的基因组（二）单倍体化的方法，并产生替代线，以获得新的品种与一套嵌合的亲本染色体。此外，我们还将研究异源多倍体模式物种基因组缩小的可能性。实验将在拟南芥及其近缘种A.苏西卡由于其短的世代时间，简单的培养条件，以及生长和筛选大量植物的可能性，拟南芥是在资助期内解决这些问题的最佳实验模型系统。诱导CR的遗传交换的后果，可以很容易地研究标记分析使用不同的生态型作为育种伙伴。该项目将CRISPR/Cas应用提升到一个新的水平，不仅可以构建合成植物基因组，还可以改善植物育种的日常应用。从长远来看，这将有助于育种者获得整个基因库，并种植具有更好的农艺性状的作物，以更好地科普全球变暖的后果。

By utilizing CRISPR/Cas-based tools, tremendous progress has been made in the improvement of individual crop traits. However, the technology has yet unexploited potential which, when harnessed, will lead to the optimization of plant genomes in a much more global way. The project aims to establish novel ways of whole genome restructuring by setting up sophisticated approaches for chromosome engineering and chromosome elimination based on an improved CRISPR/Cas toolbox. The project will transform plant cytology from descriptive to formative science. We plan to manipulate plant genomes on different levels: We not only strive to change the chromosomal position of recombination-dead centromeres to redirect meiotic crossovers. We also plan to define the limits of up- and downsizing chromosomes by inducing consecutive whole-arm translocations. Furthermore, we aim to construct mini-chromosomes carrying functional centromeres that could be used as cargo chromosomes. By inducing chromosome fusions and fissions, we plan to increase and decrease chromosome numbers. Moreover, the projects will elaborate which kinds of consecutive chromosome restructuring (CR) are required to achieve complete genetic isolation with the aim of creating novel species. Additionally, we aim to develop technologies for the elimination of single chromosomes, or even complete parental chromosome sets, by sequence-specific centromere destruction in plant hybrids. This should enable us to set up novel ways of genome (di)haploidization and of generating substitution lines to obtain novel cultivars with a chimeric set of parental chromosomes. Moreover, we will investigate the possibility of genome downsizing in an allopolyploid model species. The experiments will be performed in Arabidopsis thaliana and its close relative A. suecica. Due to its short generation time, simple cultivation conditions, as well as the possibility to grow and screen huge numbers of plants Arabidopsis is the best experimental model system to address these questions within the funding period. The consequences of induced CR on genetic exchange can be easily studied by marker analysis using different ecotypes as breeding partners. The project will take CRISPR/Cas applications to the next level, allowing not only the construction of synthetic plant genomes but also the improvement of everyday applications in plant breeding. In the long run, this will help breeders to access the whole gene pool and grow crops with improved agronomic traits that are better suited to cope with the consequences of global warming.