Researchers are using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to increase protein content in rice (+68% leaf protein and +17% seed protein) and soybeans (+25% leaf protein and +11% seed protein), aiming to address global nutrition
http://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2024/09/msu-biologist-pioneers-increased-protein-staple-crops-helps-alleviate
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>Li’s research—which includes more than 10 years of field work and field data to support her findings—focuses on optimizing the genetic expression of rice and soybean plants, resulting in increased protein levels and reduced carbohydrate content. Her novel approach uses gene editing to remove repressor elements from noncoding DNA sequences, unlocking the potential for higher protein production in crops. This strategy not only offers improved nutritional value but also promotes more sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the reliance on animal-derived proteins.
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>The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service determined Li’s gene-edited high-protein crops can be listed as nonregulatory soybean and rice, she said.
Paper: [CRISPR/Cas9‐based editing of NF‐YC4 promoters yields high‐protein rice and soybean – Wang – New Phytologist – Wiley Online Library](https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.20141)
>These targeted genomic edits in rice and soybean effectively diminished repressor binding, elevated *NF-YC4* expression, and consequently boosted protein levels and reduced starch content.
[https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.20141](https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.20141)
Interestingly, they seem to have increased the protein content and reduced the carbohydrate content simultaneously.
I don’t follow why it’s broken down like that – do people eat rice leaves?