CRISPR library designer (CLD): software for multispecies design of single guide RNA libraries

Genome Biol. 2016 Mar 24:17:55. doi: 10.1186/s13059-016-0915-2.

Abstract

Background: Genetic screens using CRISPR/Cas9 are a powerful method for the functional analysis of genomes.

Results: Here we describe CRISPR library designer (CLD), an integrated bioinformatics application for the design of custom single guide RNA (sgRNA) libraries for all organisms with annotated genomes. CLD is suitable for the design of libraries using modified CRISPR enzymes and targeting non-coding regions. To demonstrate its utility, we perform a pooled screen for modulators of the TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) pathway using a custom library of 12,471 sgRNAs.

Conclusion: CLD predicts a high fraction of functional sgRNAs and is publicly available at https://github.com/boutroslab/cld.

Keywords: Bioinformatics; CRISPR/Cas9; Functional genomics; Pooled screens; sgRNA design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Gene Library*
  • Humans
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Software
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand