CRISPR knockout screening outperforms shRNA and CRISPRi in identifying essential genes.

Evers, Bastiaan; Jastrzebski, Katarzyna; Heijmans, Jeroen P M; Grernrum, Wipawadee; Beijersbergen, Roderick L; Bernards, Rene · Nat Biotechnol · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

High-throughput genetic screens have become essential tools for studying a wide variety of biological processes. Here we experimentally compare systems based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) or its transcriptionally repressive variant, CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi), with a traditional short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-based system for performing lethality screens. We find that the CRISPR technology performed best, with low noise, minimal off-target effects and consistent activity across reagents.

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