Predesigned synthetic sgRNAs to streamline CRISPR gene editing workflows

Individual sgRNA and library collections expand Edit-R™ gene editing platform from Horizon Discovery

10 Dec 2019
Laura Sisman
Administrator / Office Personnel
Illustration of Cas9 nuclease programmed by the sgRNA complex cutting both strands of genomic DNA 5' of the PAM
Illustration of Cas9 nuclease programmed by the sgRNA complex cutting both strands of genomic DNA 5' of the PAM ©Horizon Discovery

Horizon Discovery has announced the addition of predesigned synthetic single-guide RNA (sgRNA) to its product range. The sgRNAs, available individually or as library collections, expand the Company’s Edit-R gene engineering platform which provides a convenient and accessible approach to successful CRISPR gene editing.

Using synthetic sgRNAs enables researchers to achieve reliable gene knockouts in even complex, difficult-to-edit cell types and experimental models. The synthetic sgRNAs have been designed using Horizon’s proprietary algorithm to maximize the likelihood of functionally knocking out the gene(s) of interest while minimizing off-target effects.

These predesigned synthetic sgRNAs, when paired with Cas9 mRNA or Cas9 protein, allow researchers to perform DNA-free gene editing in a new one-part format thereby streamlining their gene-editing workflows, without the potential for nuclease or guide integration into the cell’s genome. They can also be paired with expressed formats such as Cas9 integrated cell lines, which is ideal for high-throughput library screening.

The release of predesigned sgRNA expands Horizon’s Edit-R platform. Library collections of sgRNAs, from common gene families up to the entire genome, are available to support large-scale screening applications. The Company will continue to provide its CRISPR design tool, where customers can design custom guide RNA to edit a specific region within a DNA transcript or input their own guide RNA target sequence to generate ready-to-use sgRNA.

Ryan Donnelly, Product Manager, Horizon Discovery, said: “Previously, Horizon had only offered synthetic sgRNAs through the CRISPR Design tool. Providing predesigned synthetic sgRNAs guarantees editing the gene of interest, and gives researchers a more convenient option for gene knockout experiments. For those that require site-specific editing, are working in unique organisms, or use alternative editing nucleases; our CRISPR design tool is still available.”

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CRISPR Screening Services

CRISPR Screening Services Horizon offers comprehensive CRISPR screening services from screen design and cell line selection to sophisticated bioinformatics analysis of the screen results. Our best-in-class CRISPR KO (knockout), CRISPRi (interference) and CRISPRa (activation) screening platforms can significantly advance our customers’ drug development programs by offering the highest quality and highest confidence in their screening results. Data analysis services, including sample preparation, Next-Gen Sequencing, and hit calling, can be provided for users of Edit-R Lentiviral sgRNA Pooled Screening Libraries. Simply provide whole cell pellets for each of your samples and we’ll do the rest. We can also help with the NGS data analysis and hit calling for data created using the Edit-R Pooled sgRNA Indexing PCR and Sequencing Primer Kits. Types of CRISPR Screen Expertise includes whole-genome and custom targeted drug resistance and sensitivity screens, synthetic lethality target discovery screens and complex phenotypic screens using a FACS-based readout. We have optimized 50+ cell lines for CRISPR screening and have completed over 300 screens to date. We offer a choice of CRISPR screen types depending on the expression effect you require: CRISPR KO screening with complete loss of gene expression provides the maximal window for phenotypic effect and high statistical power for hit discovery CRISPRi screening represses expression rather than completely knocking out the target gene and is ideally suited to study druggability and to evaluate the function of genes that when knocked-out are essential or that are amplified CRISPRa screening amplifies gene expression in its endogenous context and enables for the first time, to study activation-linked responses on a genome-wide level Dual CRISPRi & CRISPRa screening

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