Prime Editing: Mechanism and Developments.

Prime editing is a "search and replace" based genome editing method that can introduce point mutations, insertions, and deletions into DNA at desired sites, making it the editing technique capable of making the most diverse range of edits. Prime editing utilizes a Cas9 nickase fused to a reverse transcriptase to introduce edits encoded by a specially designed DNA oligonucleotide called a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA). While prime editing has been shown to achieve robust editing in different genomic loci and in different cell types, this technology still has the potential for further optimization and improvement. Many groups have been successful in improving prime editing outcomes by optimizing the design of prime editors and pegRNAs. Additionally, modulating key cellular pathways has also been an effective tool for achieving high levels of editing. Due to its high efficiency and relative safety, prime editing has the potential to transform disease modeling and genomic medicine.