@article{fernandez-moreno_yaschenko_neubauer_marchi_zhao_ascencio-ibanez_alonso_stepanova_2024, title={A rapid and scalable approach to build synthetic repetitive hormone-responsive promoters}, volume={2}, ISSN={["1467-7652"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.14313}, DOI={10.1111/pbi.14313}, abstractNote={Advancement of DNA-synthesis technologies has greatly facilitated the development of synthetic biology tools. However, high-complexity DNA sequences containing tandems of short repeats are still notoriously difficult to produce synthetically, with commercial DNA synthesis companies usually rejecting orders that exceed specific sequence complexity thresholds. To overcome this limitation, we developed a simple, single-tube reaction method that enables the generation of DNA sequences containing multiple repetitive elements. Our strategy involves commercial synthesis and PCR amplification of padded sequences that contain the repeats of interest, along with random intervening sequence stuffers that include type IIS restriction enzyme sites. GoldenBraid molecular cloning technology is then employed to remove the stuffers, rejoin the repeats together in a predefined order, and subclone the tandem(s) in a vector using a single-tube digestion-ligation reaction. In our hands, this new approach is much simpler, more versatile and efficient than previously developed solutions to this problem. As a proof of concept, two different phytohormone-responsive, synthetic, repetitive proximal promoters were generated and tested in planta in the context of transcriptional reporters. Analysis of transgenic lines carrying the synthetic ethylene-responsive promoter 10x2EBS-S10 fused to the GUS reporter gene uncovered several developmentally regulated ethylene response maxima, indicating the utility of this reporter for monitoring the involvement of ethylene in a variety of physiologically relevant processes. These encouraging results suggest that this reporter system can be leveraged to investigate the ethylene response to biotic and abiotic factors with high spatial and temporal resolution.}, journal={PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL}, author={Fernandez-Moreno, Josefina-Patricia and Yaschenko, Anna E. and Neubauer, Matthew and Marchi, Alex J. and Zhao, Chengsong and Ascencio-Ibanez, Jose T. and Alonso, Jose M. and Stepanova, Anna N.}, year={2024}, month={Feb} }
 @article{chen_neubauer_wang_2022, title={Enhancing HR Frequency for Precise Genome Editing in Plants}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1664-462X"]}, url={http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/35592579}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2022.883421}, abstractNote={Gene-editing tools, such as Zinc-fingers, TALENs, and CRISPR-Cas, have fostered a new frontier in the genetic improvement of plants across the tree of life. In eukaryotes, genome editing occurs primarily through two DNA repair pathways: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). NHEJ is the primary mechanism in higher plants, but it is unpredictable and often results in undesired mutations, frameshift insertions, and deletions. Homology-directed repair (HDR), which proceeds through HR, is typically the preferred editing method by genetic engineers. HR-mediated gene editing can enable error-free editing by incorporating a sequence provided by a donor template. However, the low frequency of native HR in plants is a barrier to attaining efficient plant genome engineering. This review summarizes various strategies implemented to increase the frequency of HDR in plant cells. Such strategies include methods for targeting double-strand DNA breaks, optimizing donor sequences, altering plant DNA repair machinery, and environmental factors shown to influence HR frequency in plants. Through the use and further refinement of these methods, HR-based gene editing may one day be commonplace in plants, as it is in other systems.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE}, author={Chen, Hao and Neubauer, Matthew and Wang, Jack P.}, year={2022}, month={May} }