NIC1 cloning and gene editing generates low nicotine tobacco plants.

Abstract

Nicotine is the predominant alkaloid in tobacco plants, accounting for ~90% of their total alkaloid content. It is the main addictive substance in cigarettes. Reducing nicotine content in tobacco leaves will aid the development of low nicotine tobacco products. Prior work has shown that manipulation of genes involved in nicotine biosynthesis can achieve this purpose (Hidalgo Martinez et al., 2020). Here, we focused on the long-sought major regulator of nicotine biosynthesis, NIC1 (A).