The GYPC knockout HCT 116 polyclonal cells comprise a CRISPR/Cas9-edited heterogeneous population with targeted disruption of the glycophorin C gene (GYPC) in the HCT 116 colorectal carcinoma line. This loss-of-function model enables studies of glycophorin C biology in a non-erythroid, disease-relevant context. As polyclonal knockout cells, the product provides a mixed pool of edited alleles without clonal selection, suitable for bulk functional assays, pooled screens, and phenotypic analyses reflecting population-level effects.
The host HCT 116 line is a well-characterized human colorectal carcinoma epithelial model with a KRAS G13D mutation, microsatellite instability (MSI-H) from MLH1 methylation, and deficient mismatch repair. These features make it valuable for studying tumor progression, drug resistance, and apoptosis. Its adherent growth and epithelial origin facilitate cell adhesion, migration, and invasion assays, offering a robust platform for investigating glycophorin C??s roles in cancer cell behavior.
Glycophorin C, a transmembrane sialoglycoprotein, links the membrane to the spectrin-actin cytoskeleton via protein 4.1 (EPB41) and interacts with MPP1 (p55), spectrin (SPTB), and actin (ACTB). Regulated by GATA1 and Wnt pathway effectors TCF/LEF, and possibly influenced by MYC, GYPC functions in erythrocyte shape maintenance and as a Plasmodium falciparum receptor. Emerging evidence indicates non-erythroid roles in adhesion and migration, suggesting a broader involvement in cytoskeletal organization and signaling.
Disruption of GYPC in HCT 116 cells may perturb membrane-cytoskeleton anchorage, potentially affecting adhesion, migration, and metastatic properties. Given the line??s aberrant Wnt signaling, the knockout model allows exploration of crosstalk between glycophorin C and TCF/LEF-driven transcription. The polyclonal knockout pool captures diverse functional outcomes, providing a robust system to assess GYPC-dependent phenotypes in colorectal cancer without clonal bias.
Researchers can apply this model in western blotting, flow cytometry, cell adhesion, and wound healing assays to analyze glycophorin C function. Co-immunoprecipitation with EPB41 probes complex integrity, and RNA-seq reveals transcriptomic consequences. Applications include studying membrane-cytoskeleton dynamics, cancer metastasis, and glycophorin C??s Plasmodium receptor role in a non-erythroid setting. For further product information, please contact Ascent Research.
