Genome editing with the donor plasmid equipped with synthetic crRNA-target sequence

Abstract

CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing is a powerful tool for generating genetically mutated cells and organisms. Linearisation of donor cassettes with this system has been shown to facilitate both transgene donor insertion and targeted knock-in. Here, we developed a donor plasmid that we name pCriMGET (plasmid of synthetic CRISPR coded RNA target sequence-equipped donor plasmid-mediated gene targeting), in which an off-target free synthetic CRISPR coded RNA-target sequence (syn-crRNA-TS) is incorporated with a multi-cloning site, where a donor cassette can be inserted. With co-expression of Cas9 and the syn-crRNA-TS guide RNA (gRNA), pCriMGET provides a linearised donor cassette in vivo, thereby promoting the transgene donor insertion and targeted knock-in. When co-injected with Cas9 protein and gRNA into murine zygotes, pCriMGET yielded around 20% transgene insertion in embryos. This method also achieved more than 25% in-frame knock-in at the mouse Tbx3 gene locus without predicted insertion–deletion mutations using a transgene donor with 400-bp homology arms. pCriMGET is therefore useful as a versatile CRISPR/Cas9-cleavable donor plasmid for efficient integration and targeted knock-in of exogenous DNA in mice.