The CDKN2A Knockout Raji Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout population generated from the Raji B lymphoblastoid cell line, with disruption of the CDKN2A tumor suppressor gene. This polyclonal format provides a heterogeneous pool of cells lacking p16INK4a and p14ARF expression, suitable for loss-of-function studies without clonal selection bias. The cells serve as a robust model for investigating CDKN2A-dependent cellular processes.
Raji is a suspension human B lymphoblastoid cell line established from a Burkitt lymphoma patient and is latently infected with Epstein?CBarr virus (EBV). This cell line is a well-established model for B-cell biology, lymphomagenesis, and immune responses, characterized by rapid proliferation and expression of B-cell markers. Its EBV-positive status and p53 wild-type background make it valuable for investigating oncogenic mechanisms and therapeutic interventions in B-cell malignancies.
CDKN2A encodes two tumor suppressors: p16INK4a, a CDK4/6 inhibitor that maintains RB1 in a hypophosphorylated state to repress E2F-mediated transcription and block G1/S transition, and p14ARF, which binds MDM2 to stabilize TP53 and enhance transcription of pro-apoptotic and cell cycle arrest genes such as CDKN1A and BAX. These pathways are activated by E2F1, RAS, and oncogenic stress, and are negatively regulated by BMI1. In knockout cells, loss of CDKN2A disrupts both the p16INK4a/RB and p14ARF/p53 signaling nodes.
Disruption of CDKN2A in Raji cells, which already harbor EBV-driven survival signals, accentuates proliferative capacity and resistance to apoptosis, mimicking the loss of tumor suppression seen in aggressive B-cell lymphomas and other CDKN2A-deficient cancers. This model enables dissection of cooperative mechanisms between viral oncoproteins and host tumor suppressors, and is relevant for testing interventions targeting CDK4/6 or MDM2.
This cell pool is suitable for Western blotting of CDKN2A proteins and downstream effectors, cell cycle profiling by flow cytometry, apoptosis assays, and proliferation measurements. It can be used in drug sensitivity screens with CDK4/6 inhibitors or MDM2 antagonists, as well as transcriptomic studies via RNA-seq or RT-qPCR. Applications include cancer biology, cell cycle regulation, senescence, and B-cell lymphoma research. For technical inquiries, contact Ascent Research.
