The HDAC8 Knockout HAP1 Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population derived from the HAP1 human cell line. This model features targeted disruption of the HDAC8 gene, which encodes histone deacetylase 8. The polyclonal format provides a heterogeneous pool of knockout cells, enabling robust loss-of-function studies while minimizing clonal selection effects.
HAP1 is a near-haploid human cell line originating from the KBM-7 chronic myeloid leukemia line. With a single set of chromosomes in most genomic regions, HAP1 cells simplify genetic analyses and enhance CRISPR editing efficiency. Their adherent growth and stable karyotype make them well-suited for functional genomics and reproducible knockout experiments in epigenetic and cancer research.
HDAC8 is a class I histone deacetylase that removes acetyl groups from histones H3 (K9, K14, K56) and H4 (K16), promoting chromatin compaction and transcriptional silencing. It also targets non-histone substrates such as SMC3, p53, and cortactin. HDAC8 is regulated by PKA phosphorylation and association with the MTA1/NuRD corepressor complex. A key function is deacetylation of SMC3 within the cohesin recycling pathway, which is essential for cohesin loading onto chromatin, affecting sister chromatid cohesion and gene regulation. HDAC8 interacts with HSP70, Hsp90, and cooperates with HDAC3 in nuclear processes.
In HAP1 cells, HDAC8 disruption offers a clear phenotypic window due to the haploid background, facilitating study of cohesin dynamics, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis. This model is particularly relevant for Cornelia de Lange syndrome, neuroblastoma, colorectal cancer, and inflammatory diseases. The polyclonal knockout population enables unbiased assessment of HDAC8-dependent phenotypes without clonal variation, supporting both mechanistic and translational research.
Applications include functional genomics screens, drug target validation, and epigenetic mechanism studies. Assays such as Western blotting for acetyl-histones, RT-qPCR, ChIP for histone marks, immunofluorescence for cohesin localization, and flow cytometry for apoptosis/cell cycle are recommended. HDAC inhibitor sensitivity testing (e.g., Vorinostat) and migration assays further expand utility. For additional information, please contact our technical support team.
