Programmable adenine base editing in cyanobacteria using an engineered TadA-Cas9 fusion

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes with great potential in green biomanufacturing and basic research. Despite decades of pioneering achievements, the application of advanced genome editing tools, particularly CRISPR-based systems, has remained limited in cyanobacteria. In this study, we developed pCyABE, a new adenine base editor for efficient and precise A·T to G·C editing in cyanobacteria. This system utilizes a TadA-Cas9 nickase fusion and functions without double-strand breaks or donor templates. We demonstrated its high editing efficiency in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, highlighting its broad usability. pCyABE supports multiplex editing and enables start codon disruption for gene functional studies. Furthermore, this tool exhibits low off-target activity and can be effectively removed via sucrose counterselection. In conclusion, pCyABE provides a versatile and efficient genome editing platform that significantly expands the genetic toolbox for cyanobacterial research and biotechnology applications.