Publications
A natural gene drive system confers reproductive isolation in rice
Background
- DUYAO-JIEYAO encodes a toxin-antidote system that confers hybrid male sterility
- DUYAO interacts with OsCOX11 to trigger mitochondrial malfunction and cytotoxicity
- JIEYAO detoxifies DUYAO by rerouting DUYAO to the autophagosome for degradation
- DUYAO-JIEYAO forms a natural gene drive system that may promote speciation in rice
Such a natural gene drive could be engineered to reduce female mosquito transmitted diseases in humans by generating homozygous sterile female mosquitos or male-only populations. Indeed, it will be exciting to see such a system fully exploited for biotechnology and biomedical purposes.
Wang, C., Wang, J., Lu, J., Xiong, Y., Zhao, Z., Yu, X., … & Wan, J. (2023). A natural gene drive system confers reproductive isolation in rice. Cell, 186(17), 3577-3592.