Plant Genome Engineering Using Zinc Finger Nucleases

Gene targeting is a valuable tool to precisely integrate transgenes into predefined genomic locations. This technique allows transgenes to be targeted into any chosen locus in the genome to create plants with novel traits. Gene targeting by homologous recombination (HR) is also a useful approach for studying gene function because it allows the modification of specific genes, or sequences, within their native genomic context. A major aim of plant biotechnology now is the establishment of techniques for the precise manipulation of plant genomes. Until recently, despite multiple promising approaches, gene targeting in plants remained an elusive goal. Recently, however, zinc finger endonucleases (ZFN) have provided a means by which targeted double stranded breaks can be introduced at pre-defined genomic locations, and thus to stimulate recombination and repair processes at specific target sites. ZFN-mediated gene targeting is likely to become a powerful technique for precise modification and directed mutagenesis of plant and mammalian genomes.