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

June 29, 2015

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.

Hendel, A.; Bak, R. O.; Clark, J. T.; Kennedy, A. B.; Ryan, D. E.; Roy, S.; Steinfeld, I.; Lunstad, B. D.; Kaiser, R. J.; Wilkens, A. B.; Bacchetta, R.; Tsalenko, A.; Dellinger, D.; Bruhn, L.; Porteus, M. H.

Journal: Nat Biotechnol

Original article