Protein phosphorylation is a critical post-translational modification that plays a crucial role in regulatory mechanisms in plants. It affects the metabolism, intracellular transport, cytoarchitecture, cell division, growth, development, and interactions with the environment. Two important families of enzymes, protein kinases, and phosphatases, optimally regulate phosphorylation and have become important targets for gene editing in crops.

The invention of gene editing technologies has overcome methodological and technical problems associated with classical mutagenesis methods, which were imprecise and time-consuming. Modern methods are evolving at a rapid pace, which allows for precise knockout of genes and/or editing of their sequences. Three techniques widely used for editing protein kinase and protein phosphatase genes are zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and CRISPR/Cas93.

Advances in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology have made it possible to precisely modify the genes that encode these enzymes, allowing for the creation of plants with improved traits such as increased yield, enhanced stress tolerance, and improved nutrient uptake. By targeting specific protein kinases and phosphatases, researchers can manipulate key signaling pathways in plants, leading to the activation or suppression of certain cellular processes3. In this context, manipulation of TaRPK1 gene using CRISPR/Cas9 system led to altered root system architecture and improved agronomic traits such as increased number of effective tillers and grain weight while reducing spike length in wheat. The edited TaRPK1 has been found to contribute towards enhancing drought resistance and increasing yield2. In another study, knockout mutants of SlMAPK6, a mitogen-activated protein kinase enzyme showed its key role in regulating the development of axillary buds and architecture of tomato plants. SlMAPK6 appears to regulate the synthesis of strigolactone and gibberellin (GA) to induce the growth and development of axillary buds1.

Protein kinases and phosphatases have become promising targets for plant gene editing. The potential use of this technology in contemporary crop molecular breeding may result in sustainable agriculture. These advancements could contribute to the development of more productive and resilient crop varieties for addressing climate change and population growth.

REFERENCES:

1.LI, Y., YUE, N., BASIT, A., LI, Y., ZHANG, D., QIN, L., CRABBE, M.J.C., XU, W., WANG, Y. AND YAN, J., 2021, Targeted editing of SlMAPK6 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to promote the development of axillary buds in tomato plants. J. Agric. Sci., 13 (2):11-22.

2.RAHIM, A.A., UZAIR, M., REHMAN, N., FIAZ, S., ATTIA, K.A., ABUSHADY, A.M., YANG, S.H. AND KHAN, M.R., 2024, CRISPR/Cas9 mediated TaRPK1 root architecture gene mutagenesis confers enhanced wheat yield. J. King Saud Univ. Sci., 36(2):103063.

3.SOJKA, J., ŠAMAJOVÁ, O. AND ŠAMAJ, J., 2023, Gene-edited protein kinases and phosphatases in molecular plant breeding. Trends plant sci.