The EXOG Knockout Raji Polyclonal Cells consist of a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal population derived from the human Raji B lymphocyte line, designed to disrupt the EXOG gene encoding a mitochondrial 5′-3′ endo/exonuclease. This polyclonal knockout model enables loss-of-function studies of mtDNA repair and apoptosis pathways without clonal selection, providing a genetically heterogeneous background that better mimics physiological cell culture conditions.
The parental Raji cell line is an EBV-positive human Burkitt lymphoma B lymphocyte model that proliferates in suspension. Widely utilized to investigate B-cell biology and lymphomagenesis, Raji cells exhibit malignant features and serve as a well-characterized system for examining apoptosis, signal transduction, and metabolic reprogramming. Their rapid growth and genetic stability make them suitable for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene disruption.
EXOG functions as a mitochondrial endo/exonuclease that cleaves DNA at abasic sites and participates in mtDNA base excision repair and replication. Its activity is modulated by oxidative stress, TFAM, and DNA damage signals, and it interacts with POLG, TFAM, Endonuclease G, and AIFM1. EXOG acts upstream of mtDNA integrity maintenance and mitochondrial function, and its disruption leads to mtDNA damage accumulation and heightened apoptotic susceptibility, partly through AIFM1-mediated execution pathways.
In Raji B lymphoma cells, EXOG knockout compromises mtDNA repair, causing accumulation of mitochondrial lesions, impaired respiratory capacity, and increased sensitivity to apoptotic triggers. This model is particularly valuable for dissecting how mitochondrial dysfunction fuels Burkitt lymphoma malignancy and for identifying metabolic dependencies that could be targeted therapeutically. The EBV-positive status further provides a platform to study viral oncoprotein interactions with mitochondrial homeostasis.
Research applications include quantifying mtDNA damage by qPCR or Comet assay, measuring apoptosis via Annexin V staining and Western blotting for markers such as cleaved caspase-3 and AIFM1, determining mtDNA copy number, and performing metabolic flux analysis with Seahorse analyzers. These polyclonal EXOG knockout cells support investigations in mitochondrial biology, DNA repair, apoptosis regulation, and cancer metabolism. For further inquiries, contact Ascent Research.
