Chemically modified guide RNAs enhance CRISPR-Cas genome editing in human primary cells.

Hendel, Ayal; Bak, Rasmus O; Clark, Joseph T; Kennedy, Andrew B; Ryan, Daniel E; Roy, Subhadeep; Steinfeld, Israel; Lunstad, Benjamin D et al. · Nat Biotechnol · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing relies on guide RNAs that direct site-specific DNA cleavage facilitated by the Cas endonuclease. Here we report that chemical alterations to synthesized single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) enhance genome editing efficiency in human primary T cells and CD34(+) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Co-delivering chemically modified sgRNAs with Cas9 mRNA or protein is an efficient RNA- or ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-based delivery method for the CRISPR-Cas system, without the toxicity associated with DNA delivery. This approach is a simple and effective way to streamline the development of genome editing with the potential to accelerate a wide array of biotechnological and therapeutic applications of the CRISPR-Cas technology.

Medical subject headings