The DPRX Knockout HAP1 Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal population of HAP1 cells featuring targeted disruption of the DPRX gene. This polyclonal knockout model provides a heterogeneous pool of edited cells, enabling loss-of-function studies without the clonal biases inherent to monoclonal cell lines. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene disruption generates a loss-of-function model suitable for investigating the biological role of DPRX.
HAP1 is a near-haploid human cell line derived from the KBM-7 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line, which was established from a patient in blast crisis. The haploid genome simplifies genetic manipulation and facilitates high-efficiency CRISPR/Cas9 editing. Owing to its haploid state, HAP1 cells are widely employed in genetic screens, functional genomics, and drug target validation, as recessive phenotypes can be directly uncovered without the complication of a second allele.
DPRX encodes a divergent paired-related homeobox protein that is predicted to function as a transcription factor. As a member of the homeobox superfamily, DPRX contains a homeodomain that likely binds DNA to regulate the expression of downstream target genes. Although its precise physiological roles remain poorly defined, DPRX has been implicated in developmental processes and transcriptional regulation. To date, its upstream activators, interaction partners, and direct transcriptional targets have not been characterized, placing DPRX among the less-well-understood homeobox proteins.
Introducing a DPRX knockout into the HAP1 background offers a unique platform to study this elusive transcription factor. The near-haploid nature of HAP1 cells eliminates the masking effect of a wild-type allele, making it possible to detect subtle functional consequences of DPRX loss. This is particularly advantageous for phenotypic assays such as proliferation, where even minor contributions of a transcription factor may become apparent. Moreover, the leukemic origin of HAP1 cells provides a disease-relevant context, though DPRX itself has not been validated as a cancer gene, allowing researchers to explore its function in an oncogenic background.
These polyclonal DPRX knockout HAP1 cells are ideally suited for a range of functional genomics applications. Gene expression profiling by RT-qPCR or RNA-seq can reveal transcriptional changes resulting from DPRX disruption, while Western blotting confirms loss of protein expression when a suitable antibody is available. Proliferation and viability assays enable assessment of DPRX??s role in cell growth. The polyclonal nature of the product also makes it a valuable tool for pooled CRISPR screens and for studying heterogeneity in gene disruption outcomes. For more information, please contact Ascent Research.
