Technology and Research Platforms

Crop Transformation (BRACT)

Please be aware that this page is due for updating, following the restructuring of the group.

Of note is that we are no longer supporting barley transformation work (see link below for alternative facilities) and are currently unable to support hands-on training for external groups. Future training needs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and on a full cost recovery basis.

The Crop Transformation and Genome Editing platform also known as BRACT (Biotechnology Resources for Arable Crop Transformation) at the John Innes Centre offers unique world-leading expertise in transformation and genome editing of crops. The platform offers a complete crop transformation and genome editing resource for UK wheat and Brassica crops.

If you are interested in wheat, you can visit our dedicated Wheat Transformation team’s page to find out more.

The experienced team can help with a range of project needs. They can provide support for experimental design and construct assembly, through to transformation and screening of the plants developed. The BRACT platform can also provide training*, ready prepared standard constructs, and help with writing and costing of grant proposals. *currently we are unable to support short term visitors to the facility for training.

The BRACT platform can help to advance your work by providing functional characterisation of genes of interest by over-expression and/or by providing CRISPR/Cas9 derived knock-out mutants.

Constructs

Mark Smedley, our constructs expert, can help with your construct design and assembly needs:

  • A series of tried and tested pBRACT vectors have been designed and tailored for each of the crop species for both transformation and genome editing applications
  • Bespoke construct assembly

Transformation and RNA guided Cas9 based Genome Editing

Along with helping with constructs, the BRACT platforms can also offer expertise in transforming these plant crop species:

  • Brassica oleracea
  • Brassica napus
  • Wheat

Barley transformation work is no longer being offered at JIC please contact the team at the James Hutton Institute for barley and potato transformation enquiries: https://barleyhub.org/facilities/biotechnology-group/

Please contact Penny Hundleby  for more information about Brassica transformation resources. We also welcome informal discussions from researchers working on sugar beet and pea transformation as we have an interest in this area.