For high-throughput, complex phenotype screening use Synthetic CRISPR RNA
Have you heard the news? Synthetic crRNA libraries are gaining in popularity for arrayed functional genomics screens, even for the whole human genome! A smaller gene family library, the Human Edit-R Cell Cycle Regulation of over 600 crRNAs, was used in a high-content analysis screen examining cell cycle phenotypes. A peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of Biotechnology illustrates how synthetic CRISPR RNAs are ideally suited for arrayed screening in a wide variety of phenotypic readouts, including high-content microscopy assays.
Check out these highlights from the publication!
- The cell cycle reporter expresses a GFP-fusion protein that translocates between the nucleus and the cytoplasm depending on the phase of the cell cycle
- Optimization with positive and negative crRNA controls demonstrated a robust, high-content assay
- Multiple crRNA sequences per gene showed a phenotype, which led to very reliable hit-calling
- Due to the robustness of the assay, many genes were identified with high-confidence even when moderate phenotypes were observed
- RNAi, mismatch detection assays, expression analysis, and other strategies for hit follow-up and validation were employed to confirm genes’ role in cell cycle regulation
High-content imaging was performed on live cells:
Seven experimental parameters were measured based on intensity and localization of GFP reporter and nuclear staining.
These types of one-well-per-gene data clearly highlight the power of arrayed CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening in a wide variety of phenotypic readouts, including multiparametric high-content microscopy assays.
Are you curious to learn more? Take a closer look at the publication here!
High-content analysis screening for cell cycle regulators using arrayed synthetic crRNA libraries
Additional Resources
Edit-R sgRNA Libraries
- Plated pre-defined collections of popular human and mouse gene families for arrayed knockout screening
Cherry-pick libraries
- Customize and order plates of predesigned crRNA for knockout studies for your targets of interest