The Post-CRISPR Toolkit: Prime Editing, RNA Editing, and Programmable Integration

Authors

  • David Aphkhazava PhD, Professor, University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000- 0001- 6216-64
  • Maia Nozadze PhD, Professor, University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Levan Gulua PhD, Professor, Head of bachelor program of Biomedicine at University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Mzia Tsiklauri PhD, Affiliated Professor of the Medical Programs of Gr.Robakidze University, Microbiology, Immunology, Virology, Infection Control. Invited Professor of the Medical Programs of Alte University, Tbilisi, Georgia. Invited Professor of the Medical Programs of Caucasus International University, Laboratory Medicine, Tbilisi, Georgia. Member of the Georgian Immunologists Association, Member of the Accreditation Council of the Quality Development, Center of the Ministry of Education of Georgia
  • Manana Makharadze Prof. David Agmashenebeli University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.
  • Maia Berodze Assistant Professor at Caucasus International University, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Nodar Sulashvili MD, PhD, Doctor of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences In Medicine, Invited Lecturer (Professor) of Scientific Research-Skills Center at Tbilisi State Medical University; Professor of Medical and Clinical Pharmacology of International School of Medicine at Alte University; Professor of Pharmacology of Faculty of Medicine at Georgian National University SEU, Associate Affiliated Professor of Medical Pharmacology of Faculty of Medicine at Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University; Associate Professor of Medical Pharmacology at School of Medicine at David Aghmashenebeli University of Georgia; Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Pharmacology Direction of School of Health Sciences at the University of Georgia. Associate Professor of Pharmacology of Faculty Dentistry and Pharmacy at Tbilisi Humanitarian Teaching University; Tbilisi, Georgia; Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9005-8577.
  • Giorgi Margvelani Prof. European University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
  • Ketevan Chakhnashvili Clinical Director at Pineo Medical Ecosystem. Vice Dean of School of Medicine at Grigol Robakidze University. Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Tamuna Samadashvili University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Nino Maziashvili Associate Professor, University of Georgia, Tamar Gagoshidze Neuropsychology Center, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Lolita Shengelia PhD, Invited lecturer of Georgian National University, Tbilisi, Georgia; Invited lecturer of Georgian American University, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • George Maglakelidze PhD, Professor, University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Ilia Atanelishvili Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

Keywords:

prime editing, RNA editing, programmable integration, post-CRISPR technologies, genome engineering, transcriptome editing, PASTE, gene therapy

Abstract

The rapid evolution of genome engineering has extended the field beyond conventional CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases toward a broader set of precision editing platforms. Although CRISPR-Cas9 transformed modern molecular biology by enabling programmable DNA cleavage, its reliance on double-strand breaks and endogenous repair pathways can produce undesired insertions, deletions, chromosomal rearrangements, and inconsistent editing outcomes (Lee et al., 2025; Chen et al., 2024). In response, new editing modalities have emerged to improve precision, flexibility, and safety in both experimental and therapeutic settings. Among these, prime editing offers a search-and-replace strategy capable of introducing precise substitutions, small insertions, and deletions without requiring donor DNA templates or double-strand DNA cleavage (Lee et al., 2025). In parallel, RNA editing platforms, including ADAR-based systems and CRISPR-Cas13-derived approaches, provide reversible correction at the transcript level and may reduce the long-term risks associated with permanent genome modification (Booth et al., 2023; Lo et al., 2022; Yang & Patel, 2024). Complementing these tools, programmable integration systems such as PASTE and CRISPR-associated transposon platforms are designed to overcome a major limitation of classic editing methods: the efficient, site-specific insertion of larger genetic payloads (Yarnall et al., 2023; Wang et al., 2023). Together, these technologies represent a conceptual shift from DNA cutting alone toward precise rewriting, reversible transcript correction, and targeted genomic installation. This article introduces the major components of the post-CRISPR toolkit and outlines their significance for the future of precision medicine, functional genomics, and next-generation gene therapy (Anzalone et al., 2019; Chen & Liu, 2023; Booth et al., 2023; Yarnall et al., 2023).

Published

2026-06-07

How to Cite

David Aphkhazava, Maia Nozadze, Levan Gulua, Mzia Tsiklauri, Manana Makharadze, Maia Berodze, Nodar Sulashvili, Giorgi Margvelani, Ketevan Chakhnashvili, Tamuna Samadashvili, Nino Maziashvili, Lolita Shengelia, George Maglakelidze, & Ilia Atanelishvili. (2026). The Post-CRISPR Toolkit: Prime Editing, RNA Editing, and Programmable Integration. European Research Materials, (13). Retrieved from https://ojs.publisher.agency/index.php/ERM/article/view/8893

Issue

No. 13 (2026): European Research Materials

Section

Biological Sciences

License

Copyright (c) 2026 European Research Materials

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.