CRISPR knockout screening outperforms shRNA and CRISPRi in identifying essential genes

B Evers, K Jastrzebski, JPM Heijmans… - Nature …, 2016 - nature.com
B Evers, K Jastrzebski, JPM Heijmans, W Grernrum, RL Beijersbergen, R Bernards
Nature biotechnology, 2016nature.com
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 …
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.
nature.com