Advances and perspectives in artificial chromosomes

Artificial chromosomes (ACs) are genetic-engineered vector systems with defined native chromosomal elements. ACs have large carrying capacity and genetic stability without integration into host genome, thus avoiding random insertion and positional effects. ACs were first successfully developed in yeast (Yeast artificial chromosome, YAC), and then in bacterium (Bacterial artificial chromosome, BAC), human (Human artificial chromosome, HAC), and plant (Plant artificial chromosome, PAC). Here, we summarized recent progress on ACs, especially, on PAC. To date, YAC and BAC have been widely applied in genome sequencing and gene isolation, while HAC and PAC have been subjected to gene therapy, protein production, and plant transgenesis, respectively. Recently, American scientists reported a man-made genome of prokaryote Mycoplasma mycoides. However, like ACs, this man-made genome was also genetic-engineered product and can't survive as an independent life without a cellular environment.