CRISPR-PCS: a powerful new approach to inducing multiple chromosome splitting in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 17:6:30278. doi: 10.1038/srep30278.

Abstract

PCR-mediated chromosome splitting (PCS) was developed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is based on homologous recombination and enables division of a chromosome at any point to form two derived and functional chromosomes. However, because of low homologous recombination activity, PCS is limited to a single site at a time, which makes the splitting of multiple loci laborious and time-consuming. Here we have developed a highly efficient and versatile chromosome engineering technology named CRISPR-PCS that integrates PCS with the novel genome editing CRISPR/Cas9 system. This integration allows PCS to utilize induced double strand breaks to activate homologous recombination. CRISPR-PCS enhances the efficiency of chromosome splitting approximately 200-fold and enables generation of simultaneous multiple chromosome splits. We propose that CRISPR-PCS will be a powerful tool for breeding novel yeast strains with desirable traits for specific industrial applications and for investigating genome function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Chromosomes, Fungal / chemistry*
  • Chromosomes, Fungal / metabolism
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats*
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • Endonucleases / genetics
  • Endonucleases / metabolism
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Genetic Engineering / methods*
  • Homologous Recombination
  • Plasmids / chemistry
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • DNA
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9
  • Cas9 endonuclease Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Endonucleases