Newly discovered plant protein could unlock more precise CRISPR editing
Key Finding
Salk Institute researchers have identified a plant-specific DNA repair protein, YAF9B, that is activated only after DNA damage and is concentrated in stem-cell-rich tissues. The study was published on June 8, 2026, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Context
Plants face constant DNA damage from environmental stresses such as sunlight, radiation, drought, and soil stress. They cannot move to avoid damage and rely on repair systems to maintain genome stability, particularly in stem cell populations that generate new growth.
Details
- DNA is wrapped around histone proteins, forming chromatin that can hinder access for repair.
- Plants have two related proteins: YAF9A, a broad repair-response protein, and YAF9B, a specialized version activated after DNA damage.
- YAF9B acts as a chromatin reader that promotes homology-directed repair, a slower but more accurate repair mechanism compared to non-homologous end joining.
Potential Applications
Understanding how YAF9B promotes high-fidelity DNA repair may help improve genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR, in plants by enabling more precise gene replacement or insertion.
Research Team
The study was led by senior author Julie Law and first author Neeraja Vegesna, with contributions from researchers at Salk Institute and UCLA. Funding was provided by the Rita Allen Foundation, Hess Corporation, NIH, Chapman Foundation, and Helmsley Charitable Trust.