Rapid detection of genetically modified products based on CRISPR-Cas12a combined with recombinase polymerase amplification

With the large-scale planting of genetically modified (GM) crops, consumers were more aware of biosafety. Onsite rapid diagnostic methods were advantageous to the regulation of GM products. In this study, a rapid, sensitive and portable detection method based on recombinase polymerase amplification were proposed based on RPA reaction and Cas12a cleavage reaction for GM ingredients, named RPA-Cas12a-GM. The results would be displayed by fluorescence signal (FS) and visual bands of lateral flow strip (LFS). RPA-Cas12a-GM method could be completed within 45 min, and the detection limit was as low as 45 copies/μL of the standard plasmid containing CP4-EPSPS gene and Cry1Ab/Ac gene. Furthermore, the detection coincidence rate of RPA-Cas12a-GM method was 100%. In conclusion, the proposed RPA-Cas12a-GM method based FS and LFS were sensitive, specific, rapid and visible for diagnosis of CP4-EPSPS gene and Cry1Ab/Ac gene without complex equipment, which provides technical support for the regulation of GM products in the field.