The CCDC120 Knockout HeLa Polyclonal Cells constitute a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal cell population derived from HeLa human cervical epithelial cells, enabling targeted disruption of the CCDC120 gene. This polyclonal knockout format offers a heterogeneous pool of gene-edited cells suitable for loss-of-function studies without clonal selection. It provides a practical model for investigating CCDC120-dependent centrosomal and ciliary processes in a widely used cellular context.
HeLa cells are an immortalized cervical carcinoma line harboring the HPV-18 genome and exhibiting an aneuploid karyotype. Originating from epithelial cells, they retain properties like mucosal barrier formation and mucin secretion, and are extensively employed in cell-cycle, cancer, and signaling research. Their robust growth and ease of genetic manipulation make HeLa cells a standard platform for CRISPR-based functional genomics and cell biology assays.
CCDC120 is a centrosomal protein that regulates centrosome cohesion and microtubule organization by anchoring CEP135 and ODF2, and is necessary for primary cilium formation via PCM1 recruitment. Its activity is controlled by the kinases PLK1, AURKA, and CDK1. Downstream effects include modulation of acetylated ??-tubulin and ciliary localization of ARL13B and SMO. CCDC120 loss results in centrosome splitting, ciliary defects, and disrupted vesicle trafficking, impairing developmental signaling.
In HeLa cells, CCDC120 knockout enables detailed analysis of centrosome dynamics and ciliogenesis, as these cells are ciliation-competent under serum starvation. The model is valuable for studying ciliopathy-related disorders such as congenital heart disease and heterotaxy, and for examining centrosome errors relevant to cancer. The aneuploid background also allows investigation of centrosome amplification and cohesion mechanisms.
Applications include immunofluorescence staining of centrosomal markers, western blotting for acetylated ??-tubulin, cilia length quantification, co-immunoprecipitation of interaction partners, RT-qPCR of ciliary genes, and cell cycle synchronization assays. This product is suited for high-content screening of ciliary modulators and mechanistic studies. For further details, please contact Ascent Research.
