Prime editor: the rise of a new gene-editing superhero
In a dark corner of the nucleus, a mutation lurks, up to no good. It stealthily swaps a DNA base — an A to a T — gleefully awaiting the catastrophic consequences on the encoded protein.
A brave CRISPR molecule enters the nucleus and armed with its razor sharp enzyme, Cas9, is determined to rid this genome of unwanted errors. Its other secret weapon, guide RNA, acts like a compass, directing CRISPR directly to the afflicted gene.
CRISPR launches a full-blown attack, hurling Cas9 at the faulty DNA strands in the hopes the cell patches up the mutations with the correct replacement sequence. As the dust settles, CRISPR realizes it has missed the mark — the cleaved section of the double helix was repaired incorrectly. The nefarious mutation wins this time.
All hope is not lost, however. A new superhero emerges, designed to pick up CRISPR’s slack and obliterate DNA glitches for good. Enter the prime editor. In a recent article published in Nature, inventors Andrew Anzalone and David Liu describe this game-changing gene editing innovation, pinning bold predictions on how this development can substantially surpass CRISPR’s mutation-busting abilities.
The team from Harvard University claims that prime editing has the capacity to mend a massive 89 percent of all the genetic mutations…
