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. 2020 Nov 21;9(11):2518. doi: 10.3390/cells9112518

Table 2.

Comparison between genomic editing activities of Nickases versus FokI–dCas9.

Nickases (Pairs of D10 or H840) FokI-dCas9
Structure graphic file with name cells-09-02518-i001.jpg graphic file with name cells-09-02518-i002.jpg graphic file with name cells-09-02518-i003.jpg graphic file with name cells-09-02518-i004.jpg
Existing forms Monomers Dimers Monomers Dimers
Cleavage domain HNH or RuvC Pairs of HNH or pairs of RuvC FokI (But inactive) Pairs of FokI
Obligate dimerization - No - Yes
Spacer length - Up to 100bp - 16-18bp or 26bp (depending on variant used)
Target size 17-20bp 34-40bp + spacer length 19-20bp 38-40bp + spacer length
Linker - - - Required to link the FokI domain
Type of DNA damage Single strand nicks staggered double strand break No damage induced Double strands break
Type of mutations Can induce point mutations Additions or deletions of >2 bps Non-mutagenic Additions or deletions of >2 bps
Off-target effect (Compared to WT Cas9) Low-moderate Low Nearly non-existing Rare

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