The CCDC117 Knockout HEK293T Polyclonal Cells are a polyclonal population of human embryonic kidney cells engineered via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene disruption to eliminate expression of the coiled-coil domain-containing protein CCDC117. This knockout model is provided as a heterogeneous pool of edited cells, enabling robust loss-of-function experiments without requiring clonal selection. The polyclonal format preserves genetic diversity while ensuring representative knockout effects, making it ideal for initial functional screening, pathway interrogation, and protein interaction studies.
The host cell line, HEK293T, is a derivative of HEK293 human embryonic kidney cells that stably expresses the SV40 large T antigen. This enables episomal replication of plasmids with the SV40 origin, enhancing transient protein expression and virus production. HEK293T cells exhibit adherent, epithelial-like morphology and high transfection efficiency, making them foundational for gene function, cell signaling, and cancer biology studies. They provide a simplified cellular context for investigating proteins that would otherwise require specialized models.
CCDC117 encodes a protein containing coiled-coil domains, structural motifs that typically mediate protein-protein interactions. Although its full functional repertoire remains undefined, CCDC117 is implicated in microtubule-dependent processes such as flagellar motility and spermatogenesis. Representative pathway components that are linked to these processes include ??- and ??-tubulin, the molecular motor dynein, and the kinesin KIF24; additionally, SPAG (sperm-associated antigen) proteins are often found in the same biological contexts. CCDC117 may act as a scaffold or adaptor, potentially forming complexes with these factors to influence centrosome organization, ciliary function, or cell cycle progression. Its expression has been noted as a potential biomarker in certain cancers, hinting at additional tumorigenic roles.
Studying CCDC117 in the HEK293T background is particularly advantageous because these cells possess a functional centrosome and microtubule network, yet they lack the complexity of ciliated or highly differentiated cells. Knockout of CCDC117 in this system allows researchers to dissect its contributions to microtubule organization, cell division, and possible centrosomal roles without confounding developmental programs. The polyclonal population captures a range of editing outcomes, thereby mitigating clonal artifacts and providing a more representative assessment of gene function. This model is valuable for initial characterization and can be complemented with specific rescue experiments to validate observed phenotypes.
Typical applications include functional characterization of CCDC117 using Western blotting and RT-qPCR to confirm knockout and downstream effects, co-immunoprecipitation to identify interacting partners, immunofluorescence and centrosome staining to assess subcellular localization and microtubule organization, and flow cytometry or cell cycle analysis. Additionally, this knockout tool can be applied in cancer cell biology studies to explore CCDC117 as a biomarker or in tumorigenesis. For further details or to request a quote, please contact Ascent Research.
