Improving soybean fatty acid profiles by CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated gene editing of GmFAD2 and GmFAD3

Using CRISPR/Cas12a, we engineered novel soybean germplasms by knocking out GmFAD2 (GmFAD2-1A, GmFAD2-1B) and GmFAD3 (GmFAD3A, GmFAD3B) genes, yielding elevated oleic or linoleic acid content. Soybean oil contains high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are known to reduce cholesterol levels and help prevent hypertension, thereby contributing significantly to human health. However, the chemical instability of PUFAs makes them susceptible to oxidation, a process that generates harmful trans-fatty acids. To address this issue, precise modulation of fatty acid composition in soybeans becomes critically important for health applications. In this study, we employed CRISPR/Cas12a gene editing technology to selectively knock out the GmFAD2 (GmFAD2-1A, GmFAD2-1B) and GmFAD3 (GmFAD3A, GmFAD3B) genes in soybean. This approach successfully created novel soybean germplasms with distinct fatty acid profiles: one with elevated oleic acid content and another with increased linoleic acid levels. These engineered variants provide valuable options for utilizing soybean oil with optimized fatty acid compositions tailored for specific health and nutritional purposes.