ssDNA Service Launched for CRISPR-Based Gene Editing

GenScript, a gene synthesis provider, today launched a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) service to help accelerate the development of gene and cell therapy and transgenic animal models for cancer research and treatment.

The service could offer researchers access to high-quality, pure ssDNA for CRISPR-based gene insertion.

GenScript’s service uses an enzymatic approach to develop DNA oligos up to 3,000 nucleotides long in large quantities, with an undetectable level of double-stranded DNA contamination and minimal DNA base damage.

The service aims to make genome editing accessible and easy for all research purposes, according to Cedric Wu, Ph.D., senior director of research and development at GenScript.

The homology directed repair process is one of the DNA repair mechanisms triggered by CRISPR/Cas9. In this process, DNA templates can be inserted into double-stranded breaks created by Cas9 through homologous recombination.

Although traditionally, double-stranded DNA has been used as homology directed repair donor templates, studies have shown that using ssDNA as a CRISPR homology directed repair-based gene insertion template is more precise and efficient — especially in editing primary cells and stem cells. Using ssDNA also produces fewer off-target integrations than double-stranded DNA.

“The ability to insert genes at precise locations in the genome holds great promise for the generation of safer and more effective T cells,” said Eric Tran, Ph.D., leader of the Antitumor T-Cell Response Laboratory at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute in Oregon.

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