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CRISPRサービス

New! Synthetic crRNA service for efficient, DNA-free gene editing

Services include gRNA design, CRISPR plasmids, libraries and cell services

CRISPRサービス

CRISPR/Cas9ゲノム編集は、その簡便性やカスタマイズが容易なことから、さまざまな用途に用いられるようになっています。GenScriptは、Feng Zhangらの研究室（Broad Institute of MIT＆Harvard）と提携し、CRISPRに関する製品やサービスを提供しております。

CRISPRとは

CRISPR （clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats）と呼ばれている反復クラスターは、大腸菌で初めて特定された、細菌や古細菌がウィルス感染を防ぐために発達させた免疫システムです。続き>>

CRISPR/Cas9システムは、DNA二本鎖を切断してゲノム配列の任意の場所で配列の削除、置換、挿入を行うことができる新しい遺伝子改変技術です。右図のように、このシステムは、guide RNAとCas9タンパク質の共発現を必要とします。Cas9タンパク質はターゲット配列に相補的なgRNA と複合体を形成してターゲット配列を認識し、PAM配列より上流の二本鎖DNAを切断します。切断されたゲノムDNAが修復・組換えされることを利用して、ノックアウトやノックインを行うことができます。現在、CRISPR/Cas9のゲノム編集技術は、ヒトやマウスといった哺乳類細胞のほかに、細菌やゼブラフィッシュなどの膨大な種類の細胞や生物種において、広く使われています。

CRISPRリソース

CRISPRを初めてご利用されるお客様に、より快適に利用するための無料リソースをご提供します。

CRISPR Handbook – Enabling Genome Editing and Transforming Life Science

A concise resource on the history of CRISPR, along with workflows and protocols to jump-start your gene editing research

CRISPR FAQ

Have questions about CRISPR/Cas9? Learn more about the advantages of CRISPR and how to integrate it into your research.

What are the advantages of CRISPR gene editing? Read More »

Of the other gene editing technologies available, CRISPR/Cas9 has stood out for its simplicity and efficacy. The CRISPR system requires only a few simple DNA constructs to encode the gRNA and Cas9, and if knock-in is being performed, the donor template for HR. As a result, CRISPR gene editing is an approachable technique for use in any lab regardless of molecular biology expertise. The table below outlines a few of the key differences between CRISPR gene editing and other popular techniques.

How does CRISPR/Cas9 modify eukaryotic genomes? Read More »

Once Cas9 nucleases are guided to the target DNA and create a double strand break 3-4 bases upstream from the PAM sequences, there are two ways the double strand break (DSB) can be repaired. If there is no donor DNA present, resolution will occur by error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), resulting in an indel that effectively knocks out protein function. Alternatively, if donor DNA sequences are available, the DSB is repaired by homology directed repair (HDR) for precise knock-in of the target gene.

How are CRISPR reagents delivered to cells? Read More »

The most efficient method to deliver Cas9 and gRNA plasmids depends largely on the cell type. For easy-to-transfect cell lines, non-viral constructs are often suitable and can be delivered with high efficiency by lipofection. The plasmids usually contain selection markers to confirm effective delivery, such as antibiotic resistance gene s or fluorescent proteins. For hard-to-transfect cell lines, such as stem cells, viral-based transfection methods may be more effective. Lentiviral vectors may be more suitable for these cell types. All of GenScript's lentiviral vectors are compatible with 3^rd and 4^th generation lenti-packaging systems.

For detailed information on experimental design, we recommend consulting Ran et al's publication:

Ran et al. Genome engineering using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nature Protocols. 2013; 8:2281.

How efficient and specific is CRISPR-mediated genome editing with gRNA constructs designed by GenScript? Read More »

CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing is the most efficient and specific form of genome editing used to date. GenScript's scientists have extensive experience designing gRNA sequences for highly efficient KO in numerous types of cell lines. Factors that can affect CRISPR targeting efficiency and specificity are:

gRNA design: GenScript's proprietary gRNA design algorithm uses the most current genome assembly data available from NCBI and other publicly available sources, and selects the best target sequences to avoid off-target effects. We search for an ~20 bp locus in the endogenous genome of interest for which a highly-similar match does not appear elsewhere in the genome. Off-target Cas9-mediated cleavage can occur even with up to 3 mis-matches between the gRNA and the endogenous genome, though most papers have reported little to no off-target effects.
nuclease / targeting strategy: Most researches use the Cas9 nuclease isolated from Streptococcus pyogenes. Cas9 WT induces double-strand breaks that are typically repaired through non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), which introduces small insertions or deletions that lead to frame-shifts and total loss of protein expression. This has proven to be an easy and effective way to introduce phenotypic KO in every cell line and organism attempted to date. Another strategy employs a mutant version of this enzyme, Cas9-D10A (Nickase), which can be used to induce two single-strand breaks flanking a region you want to delete for a more specific or comprehensive knock-out. If you require gRNA sequences for use with a different enzyme, or have other special requests for your CRISPR targeting strategy, please email your request to us.
number of unique gRNA sequences used: Based on our in-house experience using our design tool to create knock-out cell lines, a single gRNA construct is typically sufficient to knock-out your gene of interest; however, we recommend ordering at least two gRNA constructs per gene that you want to target in order to increase your chance of successful genome editing without off-target effects.

When you order gRNA clones from GenScript, we deliver a sequence-verified plasmid containing all elements required for gRNA expression and genome binding: the U6 promoter, spacer (target) sequence, gRNA scaffold, and terminator. We guarantee sequence accuracy for gRNA clones we deliver; however, given the complexity of creating genomically edited cell lines including transfection and selection, we cannot guarantee the outcome of experiments performed using our gRNA constructs. If you prefer to receive sequence-validated KO or KI cell lines created using CRISPR technology, please refer to our GenCRISPR™ mammalian cell line service.

To learn more, please check out our archived webinar: Can CRISPR/Cas9 off-target genomic editing be avoided? Ways to improve target specificity.

What expression vector should I use? Read More »

Choosing the vector(s) you'll use to express the two critical components needed for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, the guide RNA and the Cas9 nuclease, is an important step in your experimental design. Many researchers prefer to use an all-in-one vector that will drive expression of gRNA and Cas9 in a 1:1 ratio. All-in-one vectors may also contain selection markers, such as fluorescent proteins or genes conferring antibiotic resistance, which can make it easier to isolate desired genome-edited clones. You may prefer to express the gRNA and Cas9 from separate vectors, for example if you want to vary the gRNA:Cas9 ratio, or if you want to screen a pool of gRNAs or use a larger gRNA library.

Want some more information? Check out our CRISPR gRNA construct service FAQ.

How can I use CRISPR reagents for genome editing in mammalian cell lines? Read More »

The following procedure is based on HEK293 cells. To use host cell lines other than HEK293, please follow the instruction from original supplier for cell culture, passing the cells, transfection and subcloning. If you have specific questions about how to adapt this protocol for your needs, we recommend consulting the public online forum for Genome Engineering using CRISPR/Cas Systems.

Experimental Protocol for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to knock out a target gene

Experimental outline for knocking out a coding sequence in a mammalian cell line:

I. Host cell preparation

Culture the host cells (HEK293) in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium supplied with fetal bovine serum to a final concentration of 10%. Incubate cultures at 37°C.
Subculture when cell concentration is between 6 and 7 x 104 cells/cm2.
Seed 4-6x104 cells/cm2 in cell culture plate one day before transfection.

II. Transfection

Transfect gRNA and cas9 into HEK293 cells using standard methods for HEK293 transfection. (Multiple transfection reagents give high transfection efficiency for HEK293 cells, following instructions from suppliers.)

DNA ratio for the two elements for CRISPR-cas9 system

	Two vector system	All-in-one vector
gRNA	+	+
Cas9	+	+
Starting Ratio of plasmids	1:1	NA

III. Analysis of transfected cell pool

2-3 days after transfection, the cell pool can be analyzed directly by Sanger sequencing, NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) and/or Surveyor assay. Here the commonly used methods of Sanger sequencing and Surveyor assay (or T7E1 assay) are briefly introduced.
1. Sanger sequencing of the target region can detect overlapping peaks at close region of double strand break (DSB), if small insertion or deletion (indel) mutations are introduced.
2. Surveyor assay (or T7E1 assay) uses enzymes of mismatch-specific DNA endonucleases to detect indel mutations at the targeted loci. By targeting and digesting mismatched heteroduplex double-strand DNA, this assay produces two or more smaller fragments, depending on number of mismatched sites on the region analyzed. These assays can be conducted following instructions from supplier.
IV. Cloning to obtain isogenic cell lines

Transfected cells can be selected using antibiotic resistance or a GFP reporter if they are present on the Cas9 expression plasmid.*
Transfected cells (with or without selection) can be plated into 96 well plate at 1 cell/well density for cloning. This procedure can be also conducted using diluted host cell line on 10 cm plate to form colonies, which can be picked up and transferred to 24 well plate for future usage.

*Note, selection using antibiotic containing medium can induce random integration of the cas9 expression plasmid onto host genome.
V. Screening for cell lines with desired mutation

After expansion of the clones, the cells in each clone can be analyzed by Sanger sequencing to identify the clones harboring a mutation at the target region. Sequencing trace files will show overlapping peaks at regions where double strand breaks have been repaired by introducing small indels.
VI. Knock out cell line confirmation

Knock-out cell lines can be confirmed by Western Blot if a specific antibody is available, or through functional assays specific to the gene that was targeted.