中国生物工程杂志

Gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement can be used to modify gene sequence in genomic background without position effect or insertion inactivation in transgenic plants. Targeted mutagenesis organism has little biosafety concerns free of transgenes or marker genes. Gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement in high plants now appears to be a potential tool for gene functional analysis in situ, crops genetic improvement and molecular design. Zinc finger nuclease （ZFN）is most important and would be widely used in gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement through introducing double-strand breaks in genome. In this paper, strategies for gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement in plants is discussed. ZFN is described in detail from its structure, operation model and application in plants. Developmental prospect of ZFN in plant gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement is also discussed.