Eric Rhodes Chief Technology Officer Horizon Discovery

“Time is of the essence” is a phrase that applies in many walks of life and certainly has applicability in the field of scientific research. Whether one is a graduate student preparing a critical thesis experiment or a pharma scientist developing the next blockbuster drug, getting to the key results quickly is critical.

Recently, a principal investigator approached Horizon Discovery looking to utilize genome editing technology to drive quick results with a knockout project in a human cell line. Upon discussing the intended use of the cell line in his research, it was understood that he needed to obtain a complete functional knockout of not just one, but two separate genes. The situation was further complicated by the need to generate these modifications in a triploid cell line.

The first step in any gene editing project should be to consider all of the main technologies available, and which would be best suited to that particular situation. Whilst homologous recombination with AAV-mediated genome editing is the most precise way to alter genomic DNA, there are also many benefits to nuclease-based approaches like ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR. Horizon Discovery has therefore adopted a “technology agnostic” approach to ensure that the technology best suited to the situation is applied, without undue allegiance to any one technique.

In this situation, where a triploid double gene knockout was required, a nuclease-based approach was deemed the most appropriate path forward, and CRISPR was recommended. CRISPR is a preferred method for multi-allelic modification due to the fact that fewer components are required to be transferred into the cells simultaneously than with a ZFN or TALEN approach. Because the investigator had limited concerns with potential off-target effects we recommended the use of the Cas9 wild-type protein in combination with appropriately designed guide RNAs targeting early conserved exons. An alternative approach involves the use of “Cas9-nickase”, a version of Cas9 that has a D10A mutation so that it only cuts a single strand. By using this form of Cas9 with two guide RNAs targeting opposite strands of the target DNA, a double-strand break is achieved with reduced off-target activity.

In order to improve the odds of success of gene editing projects using CRISPR, Horizon has partnered with Desktop Genetics to develop gUIDEbook™, a guide RNA design tool that combines the best public models with Horizon’s internal expertise. This tool was used to identify the five most promising gRNAs for each of the two target genes. Potential off-target sites for unwanted gene editing events are identified as part of the in silico design process, and efforts made to choose gRNA designs which limit potential off-target coding region disruptions.

It is generally recognized that in order to have confidence that you are working with a suitably active gRNA, it is best to design at least five gRNAs per target and test them empirically in cells to be sure of obtaining at least one with sufficiently high activity. This information about how each guide performed is fed into the gUIDEbook™ design algorithm, utilizing machine learning to create an ever-improving algorithm able to more accurately predict the highest activity guides.

Following consultation with the investigator, the cutting activity of each gRNA was validated in human K562 cells using the Transgenomic Surveyor® assay. He was then provided with the best performing guides cloned into a backbone vector that expressed Cas9 (wild-type), together with a complete report on the guide design, including position relative to the gene sequence, guide cutting efficiency, and a complete list of potential off-target sites for each guide.

By following this best practice process and consulting with experts in the field, the investigator greatly increased his chances of success, and limited the need for him to spend precious time and effort learning key skills that may only have transient value in the broader scheme of his work.

Horizon has been at the forefront of genome editing for over seven years and draws on a vast wealth of experience, having edited over 100 different gene targets in over 70 different cell lines. Taking advantage of this expertise provided the investigator in this case study with a much quicker path to critical results than if he had to operate alone. 

For more on CRISPR, be sure to check out “CRISPR Gene Editing: It Isn't Quite As Easy As It Looks“, “Technical Note: Potential to Supercharge CRISPR Gene Editing by Combining with rAAV“, and the video “GENESIS™ Precision Genome Editing with CRISPR and rAAV“.


Guide validation by means of Surveyor assay.

Eric Rhodes ([email protected]) is SVP, R&D and CTO of Horizon Discovery.

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