Current widely-used web-based tools for CRISPR nucleases, base editors, and prime editors

Abstract

CRISPR-Cas nucleases, base editors (BEs), and prime editors (PEs) are efficient genome editing tools used widely in diverse research fields, including biology, biotechnology, and medicine. While the genome editing mechanism is different for each tool, the target specificity is conferred in common by binding of guide RNAs (gRNAs) and their complementary target sequences. However, gRNAs can bind to off-target sequences with a few mismatches, provoking off-target editing, and the editing activities/outcomes vary depending on the gRNAs. Therefore, selection of gRNAs as well as analysis of the outcomes is crucial to improve the editing strategies. In this review, we introduce various programs currently used in selection of gRNAs and analysis of results for each genome editing tool and briefly describe the purpose and features of each program, which will be informative to researchers when planning genome editing.