The DOCK2 Knockout KYSE-150 Polyclonal Cells are a pool of CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cells derived from the human KYSE-150 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma line. This population features targeted disruption of the DOCK2 gene, which encodes a Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). The polyclonal knockout format provides a heterogeneous loss-of-function model suitable for functional studies without clonal selection.
KYSE-150 is a well-established human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line originating from a well-differentiated invasive tumor. It serves as a representative model for esophageal cancer research, enabling investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response.
DOCK2 functions as a critical activator of Rac GTPases, catalyzing GDP/GTP exchange to promote Rac1 and Rac2 activation. Upon stimulation by upstream chemokine receptors (CXCR4, CCR7), T cell receptor, B cell receptor, integrins, or growth factor receptors, DOCK2 forms a complex with ELMO1 and CRK, leading to Rac-mediated signaling. Activated Rac subsequently triggers downstream effectors including PAK1, the WAVE complex, and the Arp2/3 complex, culminating in actin polymerization, lamellipodia formation, and enhanced cell motility. This pathway integrates signals from the PI3K-AKT axis and phosphoinositide lipids such as PIP3, orchestrating cytoskeletal reorganization and directed migration.
In the KYSE-150 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma context, DOCK2-mediated Rac signaling is instrumental for tumor cell migration and invasion, key processes in metastasis. Disruption of DOCK2 expression in this model impairs actin dynamics and lamellipodia formation, thereby attenuating the invasive capacity of the cancer cells. This knockout cell population thus provides a valuable tool for dissecting the contribution of the DOCK2-ELMO1-Rac1 pathway to esophageal cancer aggressiveness and for evaluating therapeutic strategies targeting metastatic dissemination.
Typical research applications include wound healing and transwell migration/invasion assays to measure motile and invasive behavior, Rac activation assays (GST-PBD pull-down) to assess GTP-Rac levels, and immunofluorescence with phalloidin to visualize F-actin structures. Further biochemical analyses such as western blotting for DOCK2, Rac, PAK, and phospho-PAK, co-immunoprecipitation of DOCK2-ELMO complexes, and RT-qPCR or RNA-seq for transcriptional profiling are enabled. These cells also support drug sensitivity and apoptosis studies in esophageal cancer research. For technical inquiries, please contact Ascent Research.
