A new approach to find stable, Cas9-free, glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana plants by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of all seven glycosyltransferase genes, enabling complete plant glycosylation pathway modification for therapeutic protein production
Multiplex CRISPR Editing Creates Cas9-Free Glycoengineered Plants
A new approach to find stable, Cas9-free, glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana plants by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of all seven glycosyltransferase genes, enabling complete plant glycosylation pathway modification for therapeutic protein production.
Nicotiana benthamiana plants lack plant-specific sugar residues and provide a regulatory-friendly platform for producing human-compatible therapeutic proteins with engineered glycosylation profiles by using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing.
Kaur, C., Song, H., Lee, M., Kim, S., Seo, D., Kang, H., Sohn, E., Ran, Y., Koo, O., & Lee, G. (2025). conducted the study and published it under the title ” Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of seven glycosyltransferase homologs in Nicotiana benthamiana to produce stable, Cas9-free, glycoengineered plants” December 2025.
ENTECH STEM Magazine has included this research in its list of the top 10 botany Discoveries of 2025
Practical usage in day to day life
CRISPR/Cas9 Editing Revolutionizes Plant Glycoengineering
To begin with, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing glycoengineering technique helps plants produce therapeutic proteins and vaccines that more closely match human-made versions. By doing so, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing technique edit all seven glycosyltransferase genes from plant-specific sugar tags that can trigger unwanted immune reactions in patients.
Safer, Scalable Biopharma Production
As a result, plants can generate safer biopharmaceuticals by mean of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing, including antibodies, vaccines, and enzymes, at a large scale. In addition, large-scale production lowers manufacturing costs and expands global access to essential medicines.
Affordable Healthcare Treatments
From a healthcare perspective, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing provides health systems with more affordable treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and genetic disorders. Over the long term, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing supports the widespread use of plant-based platforms for medicine production powered by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing.
CRISPR/Cas9 Editing Transforms Global Healthcare Access
In the bigger picture, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of all seven glycosyltransferase genes improves global healthcare availability. This CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of all seven glycosyltransferase genes reduces dependence on expensive animal-based or cell-culture systems. Overall, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of all seven glycosyltransferase genes makes modern treatments more sustainable and accessible worldwide.
Educational and Career Opportunities
CRISPR/Cas9 Opens Plant Biotech Career Paths
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing research of all seven glycosyltransferase genes creates new opportunities in plant biotechnology and biopharmaceutical engineering. Glycoengineered plants from CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of all seven glycosyltransferase genes act as bio-factories for proteins and vaccines. Students can start with undergraduate degrees in botany, molecular biology, biotechnology, genetics, biochemistry, or plant science. These courses teach DNA, gene function, and plant systems. Advanced roles need a Master’s or Ph.D. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of all seven glycosyltransferase genes focuses on genome editing, plant genetics, or synthetic biology.
CRISPR Careers in Biotech & Pharma
Career options include botanist, genetic engineer, plant molecular biologist, CRISPR specialist, bioprocess scientist, and regulatory affairs expert within biotech, pharmaceutical, and agricultural firms. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing contribute to developing improved plant expression systems, scalable therapeutic production, and regulatory compliance for gene-edited products. Academic research positions and industry R&D labs offer roles in innovation and optimization of plant-based biomanufacturing. There are also opportunities in bioinformatics, clinical research support, and international collaborations in cutting-edge bioengineering projects. Networking, internships, and continuous learning help graduates stay competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
Conclusion
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing study demonstrates a significant advancement in plant glycoengineering by editing all seven glycosyltransferase homologs in Nicotiana benthamiana which lack plant-specific sugar residues. The generation of stable, homozygous, and Cas9-free plants represents an important step toward precise and regulatory-acceptable genome editing. By eliminating plant-specific glycan structures, the researchers created a plant platform capable of producing proteins with human-compatible glycosylation patterns, which is essential for therapeutic applications.
The ability to remove multiple genes simultaneously highlights the efficiency and scalability of multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing approaches in complex plant genomes. Importantly, the recovery of Cas9-free edited plants reduces concerns related to transgene presence, biosafety, and public acceptance, making these plants more suitable for industrial and medical use. This work strengthens N. benthamiana as a powerful expression system for biopharmaceutical production, including antibodies, vaccines, and enzymes.
Overall, the research bridges plant biotechnology and medicine, offering a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional protein production systems. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing approach sets a foundation for future innovations in plant-based biomanufacturing, supports sustainable healthcare solutions, and encourages further exploration of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing tailor plants for precise, real-world applications.
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Reference
Kaur, C., Song, H., Lee, M., Kim, S., Seo, D., Kang, H., Sohn, E., Ran, Y., Koo, O., & Lee, G. (2025). Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of seven glycosyltransferase homologs in Nicotiana benthamiana to produce stable, Cas9-free, glycoengineered plants. Frontiers in Plant Science, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1701668
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I have worked at A.M. Oxford Public School and in Jeevan Jagriti Foundation, where I developed a strong foundation in both education and social development. My role at A.M. Oxford Public School involved guiding students toward academic excellence and nurturing their curiosity for learning, while my work with the Jeevan Jagriti Foundation allowed me to participate in impactful community programs aimed at improving educational access and awareness among underprivileged sections of society. These experiences helped me strengthen my interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills.
In addition to my teaching and community involvement, I have worked as a researcher for a major health routine at the University of Allahabad, where I gained extensive experience in research methodologies, data analysis, and scientific documentation. My research work involved studying biological and health-related parameters, which deepened my understanding of the importance of scientific accuracy and ethical research practices. I possess a healthy knowledge of various bioinformatics tools such as NCBI, BLAST, CLUSTALW, Cytoscape, PubMed, and GeneMANIA, which I have effectively used for data interpretation and sequence analysis during my research.
Furthermore, my major areas of expertise include manuscript writing and poster publication, where I have successfully presented research findings in academic forums. These activities have helped me develop strong writing and presentation skills, essential for communicating scientific ideas effectively. I have also had the honor of securing first rank in a quiz competition conducted by the Botany Department of S.S. Khanna Degree College, Allahabad, which was a recognition of my academic excellence and subject knowledge. Overall, my journey through teaching, research, and community work has been deeply enriching, equipping me with a well-rounded skill set and a strong passion for contributing to scientific and educational advancement.
