Cleave and Rescue gamete killers create conditions for gene drive in plants

Abstract

AbstractGene drive elements promote the spread of linked traits, even when their presence confers a fitness cost to carriers, and can be used to change the composition or fate of wild populations. Cleave and Rescue (ClvR) drive elements sit at a fixed chromosomal position and include a DNA sequence-modifying enzyme such as Cas9/gRNAs (the Cleaver/Toxin) that disrupts endogenous versions of an essential gene, and a recoded version of the essential gene resistant to cleavage (the Rescue/Antidote).ClvRspreads by creating conditions in which those lackingClvRdie because they lack functional versions of the essential gene. We demonstrate the essential features ofClvRgene drive in the plantArabidopsis thalianathrough killing of gametes that fail to inherit aClvRthat targets the essential gene YKT61, whose expression is required in male and female gametes for their survival. Resistant (uncleavable but functional) alleles, which can slow or prevent drive, were not observed. Modeling shows plantClvRs can be used to rapidly drive population modification or suppression. Possible applications in weed control, plant breeding and conservation are discussed.