The BRMS1L Knockout SK-HEP-1 Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population derived from the human SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. This product provides a heterogeneous pool of cells with targeted disruption of the BRMS1L gene, enabling loss-of-function studies in a liver cancer context. The polyclonal format preserves biological variability and is suitable for assays where a pure monoclonal knockout is not essential.
SK-HEP-1 cells were originally isolated from the ascites of a patient with liver adenocarcinoma and exhibit an epithelial morphology. This cell line is widely used as a model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to its invasive and metastatic properties, making it a relevant system for investigating tumor progression and metastasis.
BRMS1L (Breast Cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1-Like) encodes a metastasis suppressor that functions as a core component of the SIN3-HDAC transcriptional repressor complex. Within this complex, BRMS1L interacts with SIN3A, HDAC1, HDAC2, and BRMS1 to mediate histone deacetylation and gene silencing. Its tumor-suppressive activity is primarily associated with inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by repressing transcription of key EMT drivers such as Snail and Slug. Additionally, BRMS1L suppresses matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, thereby reducing extracellular matrix degradation and invasion. The protein also negatively regulates NF-??B signaling, a pathway that promotes pro-invasive and pro-survival gene expression. Loss of BRMS1L function in these polyclonal knockout cells derepresses these targets, leading to a more aggressive phenotype.
Knockout of BRMS1L in SK-HEP-1 cells generates a powerful model for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. SK-HEP-1 cells inherently possess invasive characteristics, and ablation of BRMS1L further amplifies migratory and invasive capacities. This engineered system allows researchers to study the interplay between the SIN3-HDAC complex and EMT regulators, as well as the consequences on downstream effectors like MMP-2, MMP-9, and NF-??B. The polyclonal nature of the knockout population mimics the genetic heterogeneity often observed in tumors, providing a more realistic platform for drug response testing and pathway analysis.
Typical applications of the BRMS1L Knockout SK-HEP-1 Polyclonal Cells include cancer metastasis research, invasion and migration assays, wound healing assays, EMT studies, and investigation of tumor suppressor gene function. These cells are compatible with a wide range of downstream assays such as Western blotting, RT-qPCR, RNA-seq, ChIP-qPCR, and immunofluorescence. They are particularly suited for evaluating the transcriptional regulation of EMT and matrix remodeling genes, as well as for screening compounds that may reverse the metastatic phenotype. For further technical details and ordering information, please contact Ascent Research.
