The EPHB2 Knockout Raji Polyclonal Cells product consists of a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal population of Raji cells bearing targeted disruption of the EPHB2 gene. This polyclonal knockout model provides a heterogeneous pool of cells with loss of EPHB2 function, suitable for population-level analyses of EPHB2-dependent signaling pathways in a B lymphocyte context. The knockout approach avoids clonal selection, preserving natural genetic variability for robust functional studies.
The parental Raji line is a human EBV-positive B lymphoblast derived from Burkitt’s lymphoma, widely used as a suspension model for B cell malignancies and EBV biology. Raji cells grow in suspension and maintain their transformed phenotype, providing a reliable host for studying oncogenic pathways. Introducing EPHB2 knockout into this background enables investigation of Eph receptor functions in lymphoma, including cell adhesion, compartmentalization, and microenvironmental interactions.
EPHB2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that binds ephrin-B ligands (EFNB1/2/3) to trigger bidirectional signaling. Forward signaling recruits SRC and FYN kinases and adaptors such as GRB4 (NCK2), activating Rho GTPases (RHOA, RAC1, CDC42) to remodel the actin cytoskeleton and regulate adhesion/repulsion. Downstream, FAK (PTK2) and paxillin couple to integrin function, while the MAPK/ERK (ERK1/2) and PI3K/AKT pathways affect proliferation and survival. In cancer, EPHB2 can restrict tumor spread by compartmentalizing cells or promote malignancy via crosstalk with oncogenic networks.
In the Raji B lymphoblast model, EPHB2 knockout enables dissection of Eph/ephrin signaling in hematologic malignancies, an emerging area. The EBV-positive background offers opportunities to study virus?Chost interactions potentially involving Eph receptors. The polyclonal population mimics tumor heterogeneity, avoiding clonal bias and facilitating robust analysis of pathway dependencies in B lymphoma. Co-culture with ephrin-B-expressing cells can probe juxtacrine signaling relevant to lymphocyte positioning.
These knockout cells support diverse assays including Western blotting, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, transwell migration, adhesion/repulsion studies, Rho GTPase activation assays, and phospho-tyrosine profiling. They serve cancer research (colorectal, prostate, breast), neurodevelopment studies, synaptic plasticity, drug target validation, and tumor suppression investigations. For further technical details, contact Ascent Research.
