The ALB Knockout HEK293T Polyclonal Cells constitute a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population designed to disrupt the human ALB gene. This versatile loss-of-function model in the HEK293T background allows for detailed analysis of albumin biology. The polyclonal format yields a mixed pool of edited cells, making it ideal for bulk assays investigating overall population responses. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene disruption ensures robust ablation of target gene function without generating a clonal cell line. The product is supplied as a heterogeneous population, suitable for short-term experiments or further selection to establish clonal derivatives if desired.
HEK293T cells, a human embryonic kidney derivative, stably express SV40 large T antigen, which promotes episomal amplification of plasmids with SV40 ori. This property makes them ideal for high-level recombinant protein expression, viral vector production, and transient transfection. Their adherent epithelial growth and rapid doubling enable robust and scalable experimental workflows.
The ALB gene produces albumin, the predominant plasma protein responsible for transporting long-chain fatty acids, bilirubin, thyroxine, steroid hormones, and numerous pharmaceuticals. Beyond transport, albumin maintains plasma oncotic pressure and exhibits antioxidant properties. Hepatic transcription factors HNF1A, CEBPA, and the glucocorticoid receptor drive ALB expression, though these regulators are inactive in HEK293T. Albumin engages receptors such as gp60 and extracellular proteins like SPARC to facilitate cellular ligand uptake, impacting fatty acid transport, hormone distribution, and drug pharmacokinetics. Knocking out ALB thus offers a clean system to parse these albumin-dependent functions.
Since HEK293T cells do not express endogenous albumin, the ALB knockout population serves as an unambiguous negative control, eliminating interference in binding and transport assays. It is especially valuable for measuring albumin-drug interactions, assessing cytotoxicity of albumin-bound compounds, and conducting complementation studies with wild-type or mutant ALB to decipher structure-function relationships.
Researchers can deploy this polyclonal knockout population in a range of experimental settings. Representative assays include Western blotting and ELISA for albumin detection, competitive drug binding and displacement analyses, fluorescent fatty acid uptake measurements, co-immunoprecipitation to examine albumin complexes, and cytotoxicity screening of albumin-carried compounds. These applications support research in drug pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and the molecular mechanisms of hypoalbuminemia. The polyclonal cells are suitable for direct use in short-term tests or for generating clonal knockout lines via limiting dilution. For further technical information, please contact Ascent Research.
