pegRNA
Pronunciation: peg-R-N-A
Also written as: pegRNA — prime editing guide RNA
An engineered guide RNA used in prime editing that both targets the Cas9 nickase to the correct genomic location and encodes the desired edit via a reverse transcriptase template.
Full Definition
The prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) is an extended gRNA containing a 3′ extension composed of a primer binding site (PBS) and a reverse transcriptase template (RTT). The RTT encodes the desired edit, which is then copied into the nicked DNA strand by the reverse transcriptase component of the prime editor. Editors must distinguish 'pegRNA' from standard 'gRNA' or 'sgRNA', as they are structurally and functionally distinct. The term is written in lowercase as 'pegRNA', and its abbreviation should be defined at first use.
Usage
Usage note: Lowercase: 'pegRNA'. Distinct from standard gRNA; substituting one for the other in prime editing contexts is a factual error.
In Context
- "The pegRNA was engineered to carry a 13-nucleotide reverse transcriptase template encoding the desired transversion." — Methods section
- "Optimised pegRNA secondary structure was critical for achieving high prime editing efficiency." — Results section