Division of labor within polymerase theta in repair of CRISPR-induced DNA breaks in Arabidopsis thaliana

Understanding the repair mechanisms of CRISPR-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) is essential for precise genome editing in plants. This study uncovers a plant-specific requirement for the helicase activity of polymerase theta in repair of DSBs that have modest direct repeats in their flanking sequences. By dissecting the roles of Pol theta's domains in Arabidopsis thaliana, we highlight a functional divergence in DSB repair pathways between plants and animals. These findings not only enhance our fundamental knowledge of DNA repair but also offer innovative strategies for achieving predictable mutagenesis, advancing the field of crop engineering.