The DSG2 Knockout Jurkat Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout population designed for loss-of-function studies of human DSG2. This product comprises a heterogeneous pool of Jurkat cells with targeted disruption of the DSG2 gene, offering a versatile model without the need for clonal isolation. It serves as a critical tool for investigating desmoglein-2-dependent processes.
Jurkat cells are an immortalized human T lymphocyte line derived from acute T cell leukemia. They are a well-established suspension cell model in immunology and cancer research, valued for their robust proliferation, ease of genetic modification, and defined signaling pathways. Although Jurkat cells do not naturally assemble desmosomes, they provide a tractable platform to interrogate non-canonical roles of desmosomal proteins.
DSG2 encodes desmoglein-2, a calcium-dependent cadherin that mediates cell-cell adhesion in desmosomes. Its intracellular domain associates with plakoglobin (JUP) and desmoplakin (DSP), linking to intermediate filaments. DSG2 forms complexes with desmocollin-2 (DSC2) and plakophilin-2 (PKP2). Beyond adhesion, DSG2 modulates Wnt/??-catenin signaling by interacting with ??-catenin (CTNNB1) and is regulated by p63 transcription factors and Wnt ligands. Its disruption affects both adhesive junctions and signaling networks.
In the Jurkat context, knocking out DSG2 enables examination of its functions uncoupled from epithelial desmosome structures. While T cells lack classical desmosomes, DSG2 may influence cell adhesion, migration, or Wnt activity in leukocytes. The polyclonal knockout configuration minimizes clonal artifacts and is ideal for studying DSG2??s impact on ??-catenin-responsive transcription, cancer cell dissemination, and desmosomal protein interactions. This model also supports exploration of ARVC-related pathways in a simplified cellular environment, as DSG2 mutations are implicated in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Typical applications include Western blotting and RT-qPCR for validation, flow cytometry for surface DSG2, cell adhesion assays to epithelial layers, Wnt luciferase reporter assays, co-immunoprecipitation of desmosomal complexes, immunofluorescence staining of desmoplakin, and migration experiments. These applications facilitate research into desmosomal adhesion in leukocytes, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, cancer metastasis, and drug screening. For additional information, contact Ascent Research.
