Advancements in Cis-regulatory Elements for Enhanced Crops

Cis-regulatory elements (CREs)—including promoters, enhancers, silencers, and insulators—are critical non-coding DNA sequences that control gene expression, impacting key plant traits. Recent advancements in genome editing technologies, especially CRISPR/Cas systems, have enabled precise modifications of these elements, offering new strategies to improve agronomic performance without altering coding regions.

By fine-tuning endogenous gene expression, CRE manipulation enhances traits such as yield, stress resilience, disease resistance, and nutrient efficiency, contributing directly to sustainable crop production. Approaches like synthetic promoter design, enhancer rewiring, and multiplex editing of regulatory regions have led to crops better adapted to climate challenges and resource limitations.

Beyond crops, CRE-focused engineering in non-crop model systems supports the development of high-biomass plants for biofuel and biomaterial production, aligning with sustainable industrial goals. Furthermore, these strategies often comply with biosafety regulations, as they typically avoid introducing foreign genes—facilitating smoother regulatory approval and increasing public acceptance.

Field trials increasingly incorporate CRE-edited crops, demonstrating their stability and performance under real-world conditions. These innovations play a crucial role in achieving global objectives for food security, environmental protection, and responsible resource use, in line with SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and 15 (Life on Land).

We welcome submissions including original research articles, methods, and case studies focused on:

● CRISPR/Cas-based and alternative genome editing of CREs to enhance yield, stress tolerance, disease resistance, or nutrient use efficiency

● Design and application of synthetic promoters and enhancers for precise gene expression

● CRE modifications in non-crop model systems for biofuel and biomaterial production

● Field performance, phenotypic stability, and agronomic assessment of CRE-edited crops

● Safety, regulatory frameworks, and commercialization pathways for CRE-based crop innovations

● Consumer acceptance and ethical considerations surrounding CRE-edited plants

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: genome editing, cis-regulatory elements, synthetic promoters, stress resilience, sustainable agriculture

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.