Updated February 25, 2021:
Genome editing, along with the introduction of novel genes, allow an engineering approach to dissect the molecular framework that creates value in soybean. Recent regulatory reforms in the USA have removed restrictions on the use of Agrobacterium for bioengineering and for genome editing. But soybean has never been a good host for Agrobacterium, leading to inefficiencies in engineering and editing. The goal is to remove or change the genes that determine incompatibility between soybean and Agrobacterium.

The soybean gene responsible for recognizing and defending against Agrobacterium has been identified, pending final confirmation. We have not yet determined which Agrobacterium protein it that soybean recognizes. The first gene tested is one recognized by arabidopsis. We replaced the Agrobacterium gene with versions of that gene from bacteria that are compatible with soybean, but the resulting strains were not more compatible with soybean.

We are now using bioinformatics to screen for Agrobacterium proteins that can be recognized by the soybean gene that recognizes Agrobacterium. As we finish the bioinformatic prediction of our candidate bacterial proteins to be tested, we have developed the methods that will be used to determine if the genes identified by bioinformatics are recognizable by soybean.