The ASGR1 Knockout TE1 Polyclonal Cells product provides a heterogeneous pool of CRISPR/Cas9-edited TE1 human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells with targeted disruption of the ASGR1 gene. This polyclonal knockout population enables loss-of-function studies of the asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 in a non-hepatic epithelial cancer background, eliminating the need for single-cell cloning while preserving biological variability relevant to population-level responses.
The TE1 cell line is derived from a human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and exhibits classical epithelial characteristics, serving as a robust tumorigenic model for investigating mechanisms of esophageal cancer initiation and progression. TE1 cells are widely utilized in oncology research, including drug sensitivity testing, invasion assays, and dissection of signaling pathways underlying esophageal malignancy.
ASGR1 encodes the major asialoglycoprotein receptor subunit, a lectin that specifically binds galactose-terminal glycans on desialylated glycoproteins. It forms a hetero-oligomeric complex with ASGR2 and recruits the AP2 adaptor complex and clathrin to drive receptor-mediated endocytosis. Following internalization, cargo is trafficked through early endosomes marked by Rab5 and EEA1, ultimately fusing with lysosomes containing LAMP1 and cathepsin D for degradation. Transcription of ASGR1 is regulated by liver-enriched factors HNF4A and CEBPA, and the receptor interacts with von Willebrand factor, linking it to coagulation and atherogenic pathways.
Knockout of ASGR1 in TE1 esophageal cancer cells eliminates endogenous or ectopic receptor activity, creating a clean loss-of-function model to dissect glycoprotein clearance pathways in an epithelial tumor setting. This enables investigation of whether cancer cells express compensatory lectins or alternative endocytic receptors that could influence glycoprotein turnover and cell surface glycosylation??processes often dysregulated in malignancy and relevant to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma biology.
Typical applications include quantitative ligand uptake assays using fluorescent asialoorosomucoid to measure endocytic capacity, complemented by western blotting, immunofluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry to confirm ASGR1 loss and monitor trafficking markers (e.g., LAMP1, EEA1). RT-qPCR assesses transcriptional changes, while clathrin inhibitor studies and co-immunoprecipitation with ASGR2 or AP2 components dissect the internalization machinery. The cells support Marburg virus entry studies and galactose-functionalized drug delivery development. For further details, please contact Ascent Research.
