CRISPR off-target detection with DISCOVER-seq

Authors:
Wienert B, Wyman SK, Yeh CD, Conklin BR, Corn JE
In:
Source: Nat Protocols
Publication Date: (2020)
Issue: 15(5): 1775-1799
Research Area:
Basic Research
Cells used in publication:
K-562
Species: human
Tissue Origin: blood
B16-F10
Species: mouse
Tissue Origin: dermal
Platform:
4D-Nucleofector® X-Unit
Experiment

Uses 1x10exp7 cells (which is a pellet volume of appr. 35 µl ) + 15 µl RNPs + 65 µl SF Cell Line Nucleofector Solution (= total volume of 115 µl) in a 100 µl cuvette.

Abstract

DISCOVER-seq (discovery of in situ Cas off-targets and verification by sequencing) is a broadly applicable approach for unbiased CRISPR-Cas off-target identification in cells and tissues. It leverages the recruitment of DNA repair factors to double-strand breaks (DSBs) after genome editing with CRISPR nucleases. Here, we describe a detailed experimental protocol and analysis pipeline with which to perform DISCOVER-seq. The principle of this method is to track the precise recruitment of MRE11 to DSBs by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next-generation sequencing. A customized open-source bioinformatics pipeline, BLENDER (blunt end finder), then identifies off-target sequences genome wide. DISCOVER-seq is capable of finding and measuring off-targets in primary cells and in situ. The two main advantages of DISCOVER-seq are (i) low false-positive rates because DNA repair enzyme binding is required for genome edits to occur and (ii) its applicability to a wide variety of systems, including patient-derived cells and animal models. The whole protocol, including the analysis, can be completed within 2 weeks.