1. Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, USA
2. Sangamo BioSciences, Point Richmond Tech Center, 501 Canal Boulevard, Suite A100, Richmond, California 94804, USA

Correspondence to: Vipula K. Shukla¹ Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to V.K.S. (Email: vkshukla@dow.com).

Abstract

Agricultural biotechnology is limited by the inefficiencies of conventional random mutagenesis and transgenesis. Because targeted genome modification in plants has been intractable¹, plant trait engineering remains a laborious, time-consuming and unpredictable undertaking. Here we report a broadly applicable, versatile solution to this problem: the use of designed zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) that induce a double-stranded break at their target locus². We describe the use of ZFNs to modify endogenous loci in plants of the crop species Zea mays. We show that simultaneous expression of ZFNs and delivery of a simple heterologous donor molecule leads to precise targeted addition of an herbicide-tolerance gene at the intended locus in a significant number of isolated events. ZFN-modified maize plants faithfully transmit these genetic changes to the next generation. Insertional disruption of one target locus, IPK1, results in both herbicide tolerance and the expected alteration of the inositol phosphate profile in developing seeds. ZFNs can be used in any plant species amenable to DNA delivery; our results therefore establish a new strategy for plant genetic manipulation in basic science and agricultural applications.

1. Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, USA
2. Sangamo BioSciences, Point Richmond Tech Center, 501 Canal Boulevard, Suite A100, Richmond, California 94804, USA

Correspondence to: Vipula K. Shukla¹ Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to V.K.S. (Email: vkshukla@dow.com).

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