Data from: Filamentation and restoration of normal growth in Escherichia coli using a combined CRISPRi sgRNA/antisense RNA approach

CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) using dCas9-sgRNA is a powerful tool for the
exploration and manipulation of gene functions. Here we quantify the
reversible switching of a central process of the bacterial cell cycle by
CRISPRi and an antisense RNA mechanism. Reversible induction of
filamentous growth in E. coli has been recently demonstrated by
controlling the expression levels of the bacterial cell division proteins
FtsZ/FtsA via CRISPRi. If FtsZ falls below a critical level, cells cannot
divide. However, the cells remain metabolically active and continue with
DNA replication. We surmised that this makes them amenable to an inducible
antisense RNA strategy to counteract FtsZ inhibition. We show that both
static and inducible thresholds can adjust the characteristics of the
switching process. Combining bulk data with single cell measurements, we
characterize the efficiency of the switching process. Successful
restoration of division is found to occur faster in the presence of
antisense sgRNAs than upon simple termination of CRISPRi induction.