Engineering guide RNA to reduce the off-target effects of CRISPR

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2019Source: Journal of Genetics and GenomicsAuthor(s): Jing Wu, Hao YinAbstractAs versatile and robust genome editing tools, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technologies have been broadly used in basic research, biotechnology and therapeutic development. Off-target mutagenesis by CRISPR systems has been demonstrated, and various methods have been developed to markedly increase their specificity. In this review, we highlight the efforts of producing and modifying guide RNA to minimize off-target activities, including sequence and structure design, tuning expression and chemical modification. The modalities of guide RNA engineering can be applied across CRISPR systems. In conjunction with CRISPR protein effectors, the engineered guide RNA enables efficient and precise genome editing.
Source: Journal of Genetics and Genomics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research