The DST Knockout Jurkat Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout population targeting the DST gene in Jurkat T lymphocytes. DST encodes dystonin, a plakin family cytoskeletal linker that connects intermediate filaments to actin and microtubules. This product comprises a heterogeneous pool of Jurkat cells with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of the DST locus via transient Cas9/sgRNA delivery, avoiding clonal selection to preserve a diverse loss-of-function allele spectrum.
Jurkat cells are an immortalized human T lymphocyte line derived from peripheral blood of a 14-year-old male with acute T-cell leukemia. Aneuploid and expressing constitutively active IL-2 receptor, Jurkat cells are a widely used model for T-cell receptor signaling, apoptosis, and HIV infection studies. Their robust growth and well-characterized signaling cascades make them an ideal host for examining cytoskeletal dynamics in immune cells.
Dystonin is a critical cytoskeletal integrator that physically tethers keratin intermediate filaments to actin and microtubule networks. It interacts with plectin, BPAG2/COL17A1, and integrin ??6??4, anchoring the keratin cytoskeleton to adhesion complexes. Regulated by TP53 and cellular stress, dystonin loss compromises cytoskeletal stability, disrupts cell adhesion, and impairs resilience to mechanical force. The dystonin-BPAG2-integrin ??6??4-keratin axis represents a key structural pathway, with dystonin acting upstream of adhesion complex assembly and downstream of stress signals to maintain cellular integrity.
In Jurkat T cells, dystonin??s contribution to adhesion and cytoskeletal organization remains poorly defined, yet its disruption is expected to influence T-cell adhesion, migration, and mechanotransduction. Because dystonin links to TP53-mediated apoptosis, this knockout model allows dissection of how cytoskeletal defects intersect with death signaling in a leukemic T-cell context. The polyclonal nature provides a realistic spectrum of loss-of-function effects, enhancing the study of heterogeneous responses.
This product supports diverse assays, including Western blotting for dystonin confirmation, immunofluorescence for cytoskeletal integrity, cell adhesion and migration/invasion assays, and flow cytometry for apoptosis markers. RT-qPCR can monitor downstream gene expression, while the model is suitable for genetic or chemical rescue screening. For further technical details, contact Ascent Research.
