Progress in gene editing tools, implications and success in plants: a review.

Genetic modifications are made through diverse mutagenesis techniques for crop improvement programs. Among these mutagenesis tools, the traditional methods involve chemical and radiation-induced mutagenesis, resulting in off-target and unintended mutations in the genome. However, recent advances have introduced site-directed nucleases (SDNs) for gene editing, significantly reducing off-target changes in the genome compared to induced mutagenesis and naturally occurring mutations in breeding populations. SDNs have revolutionized genetic engineering, enabling precise gene editing in recent decades. One widely used method, homology-directed repair (HDR), has been effective for accurate base substitution and gene alterations in some plant species. However, its application has been limited due to the inefficiency of HDR in plant cells and the prevalence of the error-prone repair pathway known as non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). The discovery of CRISPR-Cas has been a game-changer in this field. This system induces mutations by creating double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the genome and repairing them through associated repair pathways like NHEJ. As a result, the CRISPR-Cas system has been extensively used to transform plants for gene function analysis and to enhance desirable traits. Researchers have made significant progress in genetic engineering in recent years, particularly in understanding the CRISPR-Cas mechanism. This has led to various CRISPR-Cas variants, including CRISPR-Cas13, CRISPR interference, CRISPR activation, base editors, primes editors, and CRASPASE, a new CRISPR-Cas system for genetic engineering that cleaves proteins. Moreover, gene editing technologies like the prime editor and base editor approaches offer excellent opportunities for plant genome engineering. These cutting-edge tools have opened up new avenues for rapidly manipulating plant genomes. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of plant genetic engineering, focusing on recently developed tools for gene alteration and their potential applications in plant research.

Revisiting the role of cyanobacteria-derived metabolites as antimicrobial agent: A 21st century perspective.

Cyanobacterial species are ancient photodiazotrophs prevalent in freshwater bodies and a natural reservoir of many metabolites (low to high molecular weight) such as non-ribosomal peptides, polyketides, ribosomal peptides, alkaloids, cyanotoxins, and isoprenoids with a well-established bioactivity potential. These metabolites enable cyanobacterial survival in extreme environments such as high salinity, heavy metals, cold, UV-B, etc. Recently, these metabolites are gaining the attention of researchers across the globe because of their tremendous applications as antimicrobial agents. Many reports claim the antimicrobial nature of these metabolites; unfortunately, the mode of action of such metabolites is not well understood and/or known limited. Henceforth, this review focuses on the properties and potential application, also critically highlighting the possible mechanism of action of these metabolites to offer further translational research. The review also aims to provide a comprehensive insight into current gaps in research on cyanobacterial biology as antimicrobials and hopes to shed light on the importance of continuing research on cyanobacteria metabolites in the search for novel antimicrobials.