CRISPR sgRNA Library
abm's CRISPR Gene Knockout sgRNA vectors and viruses are highly effective at achieving knockout of your target gene. Cas9 functions to create a double-stranded break within an early exon triggering repair via Non-Homologous End-Joining (NHEJ) mechanism resulting in deleterious frameshift mutations. We offer a comprehensive collection of All-in-One (spCas9 and sgRNA expressing) and sgRNA only expressing constructs targeting any human, mouse, or rat gene. Can't find the construct you're looking for? Contact our team for a Custom sgRNA vector or virus.
Find CRISPR Knockout Products for Your Gene
Search by gene symbol, gene name, or accession number to find premade lentiviral, AAV, and non-viral CRISPR knockout products.
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Choose Your CRISPR Knockout Vector
Start with an All-in-One vector that expresses both Cas9 and a gene-specific sgRNA, or customize a gene-specific product to use an sgRNA-only backbone when Cas9 is already present.
All-in-One CRISPR Systems
Compare the main All-in-One formats below. Each system expresses Cas9 and a gene-specific sgRNA from the same construct.
| Feature | Lentiviral | AAV | Non-Viral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical construct | spCas9 + sgRNA + PuromycinR | saCas9 + sgRNA | spCas9 + sgRNA + GFP |
| Best suited for | Stable knockout workflows and many difficult-to-transfect cells | Selected in vivo, tissue-directed, and primary-cell applications | Transfection-compatible cultured cells and small-scale studies |
| Expression profile | Stable genomic integration and long-term expression | Primarily episomal expression with limited cargo capacity | Plasmid-based expression without viral production |
| Key consideration | Suitable for many dividing and non-dividing cells | Uses the smaller saCas9 nuclease to fit within AAV cargo limits | Requires efficient plasmid transfection |
| Available formats | Vector DNA or packaged lentivirus | Vector DNA or packaged AAV | Plasmid DNA |
| Scrambled controls | |||
| Browse backbones | View Lentiviral Backbones | View AAV Backbones | View Non-Viral Backbones |
sgRNA-Only Options Are Also Available
Choose an sgRNA-only vector when your cells already express a compatible Cas9 nuclease, or when Cas9 and the sgRNA will be delivered separately. Gene-specific products open with a recommended All-in-One backbone, but you can switch to an sgRNA-only configuration using the Customize Vector option on the product page.
Lentiviral sgRNA-Only
Scrambled controls
AAV sgRNA-Only
Scrambled controls
Non-Viral sgRNA-Only
Backbone
Scrambled control
How to Select an sgRNA-Only Configuration
- Open the gene-specific CRISPR product page and select Customize Vector.
- Click the blue Cas9/reporter cassette on the vector map.
- Select Select from reporter database.
- Choose the appropriate sgRNA-only cassette. For the lentiviral option, replace SFFV-Cas9-2A-Puro with PGK-Neo.
- Review the updated vector map and select Finish Design.
Important: sgRNAs designed for spCas9 and saCas9 are not interchangeable. Confirm that the selected sgRNA backbone and PAM requirement match the Cas9 nuclease used in your experiment.
Additional Resources
Additional Information
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Performance/Data
Click to see our CRISPR Knockout Case Study, including experimental design and supporting data. -
Workflow
How to use abm's sgRNA lentivectors and lentiviruses in your CRISPR knockout experiment. -
Need Help Getting Started?
This handbook outlines guidelines for CRISPR sgRNA design and the experimental procedures needed to achieve a specific gene knockout.
Documents
Top Publications
Inferring and perturbing cell fate regulomes in human brain organoids.
Fleck JS. et al.
Nature (2022)
doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05279-8
Gangliosides are essential endosomal receptors for quasi-enveloped and naked hepatitis A virus.
Das A. et al.
Nature Microbiology (2020)
doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-0727-8
Basal expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 drives intrinsic hepatocyte resistance to multiple RNA viruses.
Yamane D. et al.
Nature Microbiology (2019)
doi: 10.1038/s41564-019-0425-6
FAQs
| What are CRISPR KO vectors and how do they work? |
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CRISPR KO (knockout) vectors are genetic tools designed to deliver Cas9 nuclease and guide RNA (sgRNA) into cells to create gene knockouts via double-strand breaks and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). These vectors can be packaged into lentiviruses, AAVs, or used as plasmids for transient transfection.
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| What is the difference between lentiviral, AAV, and non-viral CRISPR KO vectors? |
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• Lentiviral CRISPR KO vectors: Integrate into the genome, providing stable Cas9/sgRNA expression, ideal for long-term knockouts in dividing cells.
• AAV CRISPR KO vectors: Deliver episomal DNA, great for in vivo and tissue-specific knockouts, but have a limited packaging capacity (~4.7 kb). Our vectors use the smaller saCas9 variant to fit within this size limit. Our vectors can also be customized to express sgRNA only for use together with spCas9-cell lines (both in Lentivirus and AAV formats). • Non-viral CRISPR KO vectors (plasmid, mRNA, or RNP delivery): Provide transient expression, reducing off-target effects, and are best for short-term functional assays or when integration is undesirable. |
| Why use lentiviral CRISPR KO vectors for gene knockouts? |
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Lentiviral CRISPR KO vectors are ideal when:
• Stable, long-term knockout is required • Working with hard-to-transfect or dividing cell lines • Generating pooled or arrayed CRISPR knockout libraries for functional genomics and drug screening |
| Can AAV be used for CRISPR KO experiments? |
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Yes. AAV CRISPR KO vectors are preferred for:
• In vivo knockout studies due to their low immunogenicity and tissue-specific tropism • Targeting post-mitotic cells such as neurons and muscle cells However, due to AAV’s small packaging capacity, researchers often use dual-vector systems (one for Cas9, one for sgRNA; or saCas9). |
| What are non-viral CRISPR KO delivery methods? |
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Non-viral methods include:
• Plasmid transfection (Cas9 + sgRNA) • mRNA delivery (Cas9 mRNA + synthetic sgRNA) • RNP complexes (Cas9 protein pre-complexed with sgRNA) These are ideal for rapid, transient knockouts with minimal genomic integration risk. |
| Which CRISPR KO delivery method is best for my experiment? |
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• Stable knockout in dividing cells → Lentiviral CRISPR KO vectors
• In vivo or tissue-specific knockout → AAV CRISPR KO vectors • Transient or low-risk editing → Non-viral RNP or mRNA delivery The choice depends on cell type, duration of expression, and safety requirements. |
| What cell types can be targeted with lentiviral CRISPR KO viruses? |
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Lentiviral CRISPR KO viruses efficiently transduce:
• Hard-to-transfect cell lines (e.g., suspension cells, primary T cells) • Stem cells • Dividing cancer cell lines for functional genomics Their broad tropism makes them popular for genome-wide CRISPR knockout screening. |
| Are CRISPR KO lentiviral and AAV vectors available as pooled libraries? |
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Yes. We offer custom pooled CRISPR KO libraries in lentiviral format for genome-wide functional screening.
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| How do I choose between plasmid-based and virus-based CRISPR KO systems? |
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• Use plasmid or RNP delivery for quick, small-scale knockouts in easy-to-transfect cells.
• Use lentivirus for stable integration and pooled library screening. • Use AAV for precise in vivo or tissue-specific knockouts. |
| How stable are knockouts generated with lentiviral CRISPR KO vectors? |
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Because lentiviral CRISPR KO vectors integrate into the genome, Cas9 and sgRNA are stably expressed, making the knockout permanent in most cases, provided the target gene undergoes successful NHEJ-induced frameshift mutations.
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