- Novel genetical approach offering plants a universal resistance against TLS-RNA-viruses (27 viruses/ 8 families)
- Vast possibilities of [Virus/plants] couples & Market opportunities
TECHNOLOGY
- PRORP proteins family are newly discovered RNAse P activity enzymes, located in organels, able to cleave tRNA & tRNA-like-sequences (TLS).
- TLS are constituents of 3’-extremity of some virus RNA, Necessary to use the cellular machinery and proliferate.
- Idea : Cytosolic PRORP mutant (CytoRP) can be obtained by deletion/mutation of the localization sequence. Consequently, CytoRP can exhibit a RNAse-P activity in the cytoplasm, avoiding virus RNA proliferation.
APPLICATION
- TLS RNA-viruses resistant plants generation (8 families, 27 virus, including TYMV, TMV, CMV …)
- Applicable to any vegetable crops.
- GMO & Non-GMO transformations possible
INNOVATION ADVANTAGES
- Not transgenic : CYTORP DNA results from a DNA sequence sequence deletion/mutation of PRORP
- Multiple resistances in 1 transformation
- Low risk of resistance development thanks to the new resistance Mode of action
- CRISPR-Cas9 method possible and currently investigated
DEVELOPMENT STATUS
- Cucumber CYTORP ensymetically active on virus cleavage
- In vivo POC in Arabidopsis = established virus resistant plants by CYTORP transgenic expression
- Gene edited plants ongoing (Arabidopsis)
Partnership : out-licensing