Choosing a system for in vivo genome editing: Is TALEN or CRISPR/Cas9 best for your project?

The gold standard for genetically engineering mouse models is ES-cell based homologous recombination. However, this approach is very time-consuming and costly. Recently, TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 systems have been harnessed to edit genomes of cultured cells, mice and rats^1,2. Both systems can be used to create knockouts, and to introduce point mutations or small insertions, but each has distinct advantages (see Table 1). TALENs are chimeric proteins composed of site-specific DNA-binding domains fused to the non-specific endonuclease FokI. CRISPR/Cas9 uses a site-specific single guide RNA (sgRNA) to direct the Cas9 nuclease to its target locus.

Off-target effects

Because TALEN pairs bind opposite sides of the target site, TALEN-mediated cleavage at other sites in the genome is unlikely⁴. In contrast, off-target effects have been reported using CRISPR/Cas9 in cell lines³, but analyses of CRISPR/Cas9 knockout mice suggest lower off-target frequency in vivo⁵.  

Efficiency and multiplexing

Genome modifications can be introduced by directly injecting RNAs encoding TALENs or Cas9 protein and gRNA, into one-cell stage fertilized eggs^5,6. Mutations can also be introduced at multiple loci by coinjecting multiple gRNAs with Cas9⁴.

Target sites

TALENs can be generated to specifically target nearly any sequence in the genome. In contrast, target site selection for CRISPR/Cas9 is limited by the requirement for a PAM (NGG) sequence⁷. Since either DNA strand can be targeted, this is no barrier for gene knockout, but may present difficulties in site-specific mutations or insertions.

Target design and construction

Because targeting of CRISPR/Cas9 relies on simple RNA/DNA hybridization, gRNAs are easier to design and construct than TALENs, taking only 1-3 days. However, currently available TALEN recognition modules have greatly reduced work required to clone TALEN vectors.

Both TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 systems show great promise- Which approach should you choose? To generate a single- or double-knockout quickly, try CRISPR/Cas9. Otherwise, TALEN offers fewer off-target effects and target sequence requirements. Unfortunately, for the generation of conditional and inducible alleles, ES cell-based gene targeting remains the only option.

Cyagen offers a complete line of genome editing services using TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9, in both mice and rats. Visit our site to learn more about our rapid and cost-effective genome editing options.

If you are want to use nuclease-mediated genome editing in your own experiments, but aren't interested in animal models, custom TALEN vectors are also available from VectorBuilder.com.

Speak to our specialists:
Tel: (800) 921-8930
service@cyagen.com

Earn $550 Apple Gift Card

Refer Cyagen's mouse services to your colleagues and receive an Apple gift card. Your referral will receive a 5% discount on their first order!

Offer Expires: December 31, 2015

1. Gaj T, Gersbach CA, Barbas CF 3rd (2013) ZFN, TALEN, and CRISPR/Cas-based methods for genome engineering. Trends Biotechnol. 31: 397-405
2. Shalem O, Sanjana NE, Hartenian E, Shi X, Scott DA, Mikkelsen TS, Heckl D, Ebert BL, Root DE, Doench JG, Zhang F (2014) Genome-scale CRISPR-Pro knockout screening in human cells. Science 343: 84-87
3. Fu Y, Foden JA, Khayter C, Maeder ML, Reyon D, Joung JK, Sander JD (2013) High-frequency off-target mutagenesis induced by CRISPR-Cas nucleases in human cells. Nat Biotechnol. 31: 822-826.
4. Park CY, Kim J, Kweon J, Son JS, Lee JS, Yoo JE, Cho SR, Kim JH, Kim JS, Kim DW (2014) Targeted inversion and reversion of the blood coagulation factor 8 gene in human iPS cells using TALENs. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111: 9253-9258
5. Wang H, Yang H, Shivalila CS, Dawlaty MM, Cheng AW, Zhang F, Jaenisch R (2013) One-step generation of mice carrying mutations in multiple genes by CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome engineering. Cell 153:910-918
6. Tesson L, Usal C, M\A8\A6noret S, Leung E, Niles BJ, Remy S, Santiago Y, Vincent AI, Meng X, Zhang L, Gregory PD, Anegon I, Cost GJ (2011) Knockout rats generated by embryo microinjection of TALENs. Nat Biotechnol. 29: 695-696
7. Hwang WY, Fu Y, Reyon D, Maeder ML, Tsai SQ, Sander JD, Peterson RT, Yeh JR, Joung JK (2013) Efficient genome editing in zebrafish using a CRISPR-Cas system. Nat Biotechnol. 31: 227-229