SWISS: multiplexed orthogonal genome editing in plants with a Cas9 nickase and engineered CRISPR RNA scaffolds

Abstract

We describe here a CRISPR simultaneous and wide-editing induced by a single system (SWISS), in which RNA aptamers engineered in crRNA scaffold recruit their cognate binding proteins fused with cytidine deaminase and adenosine deaminase to Cas9 nickase target sites to generate multiplexed base editing. By using paired sgRNAs, SWISS can produce insertions/deletions in addition to base editing. Rice mutants are generated using the SWISS system with efficiencies of cytosine conversion of 25.5%, adenine conversion of 16.4%, indels of 52.7%, and simultaneous triple mutations of 7.3%. The SWISS system provides a powerful tool for multi-functional genome editing in plants.