Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA and Mishmar Hashiva, Israel
March 20, 2014
Danziger Innovations Ltd. and Precision BioSciences, Inc., today announced that they have successfully generated site-specific genome modifications in petunia and jasmine tobacco by combining Precision’s Directed Nuclease Editor (DNE) gene editing technology with Danziger’s MemoGene gene delivery system. This successful research effort was aimed at genetic control of flower color but researchers at Precision and Danziger believe that the approach can be used more broadly to address genome engineering challenges in plants that are recalcitrant to existing transformation methods without requiring the insertion of foreign DNA into the plant genome.
Precision’s DNE technology is a proprietary method for making site-specific modifications to complex genomes. The current version of the technology can create virtually any desired genetic change without the high-levels of off-target modification that are often seen with alternative genome engineering methods.
Danziger’s MemoGene technology is a proprietary, viral-based technology for precise gene modifications, using highly innovative tools to deliver endonucleases to specific compartments in the plant cell by uniquely designed viral vectors. The MemoGene solution bypasses current biotechnological barriers and offers two main consumer applications: Deletion and Insertion/Substitution of DNA sequences to create new, commercially desirable “tailor-made” varieties of field, vegetable, woody and ornamental crops.
“While DNE has a long and successful history in major row crops, we see a significant commercial opportunity in ornamentals and other high-value plants,” said Derek Jantz, Precision’s VP of Scientific Development. “MemoGene will allow us to work in numerous such species that do not have established transformation protocols and potentially reduce regulatory burdens.”
“We are very pleased with this cooperation. Using the MemoGene and DNE technologies together creates a synergy that shall lead to the creation of new and improved varieties, with novel traits,” said Micha Danziger, CEO of Danziger Innovations. “Using our MemoGene Deletion technology allows us to create a mutated plant, without leaving any trace of foreign DNA in plant genome. We may achieve the predictable results at reduced time and cost.”
About Precision BioSciences
Precision BioSciences’ mission is to continually provide, improve, and enable the world’s most powerful genome engineering technology. Precision’s proprietary Directed Nuclease Editor™ (DNE) technology enables the production of genome editing enzymes that can insert, remove, modify, and regulate essentially any gene in mammalian or plant cells. Precision BioSciences’ vision is to be the conduit through which the world’s greatest genome engineering challenges are solved. Precision has successfully utilized its DNE technology to create innovative products in partnerships with many of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical and agbiotech firms. Internally, Precision is developing DNE-based product leads for agricultural, biologics manufacturing and human therapeutic applications. For additional information, please visit www.precisionbiosciences.com.
Danziger Innovations Ltd. is an Israeli biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and manufacture of new advanced breeding solutions to improve traits in crops for the world agricultural community’s needs. The company founded in 2008 is a spin-off of Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm, a global leader in breeding and production of bedding plants and cut flowers for over 60 years. Danziger Innovations’ MemoGene technology was developed in collaboration with Prof. Vainstein of the Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment. For additional information, please visit www.danziger-innovations.com.
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