The HEATR3 Knockout SK-HEP-1 Polyclonal Cells represent a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population derived from the SK-HEP-1 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, featuring targeted disruption of the HEATR3 gene. This loss-of-function model enables researchers to investigate the consequences of HEATR3 ablation on ribosome biogenesis and cellular function without the need for clonal isolation or single-cell selection procedures.
The parental SK-HEP-1 cell line was originally isolated from the ascites of a patient with liver adenocarcinoma and serves as a widely used model for hepatocellular carcinoma studies. Although initially classified as an endothelial line, subsequent characterization has established its epithelial origin, and it is now recognized as a relevant system for investigating liver cancer biology, including proliferation, metastasis, and drug response.
HEATR3 encodes a nucleolar protein that functions as a component of the small subunit processome, a macromolecular complex essential for pre-ribosomal RNA processing. Mechanistically, HEATR3 is required for early cleavage steps in 18S rRNA maturation, facilitating the assembly of the small ribosomal subunit. Its activity is regulated upstream by MYC and mTOR signaling pathways, which respond to growth factor stimulation, and it physically interacts with UTP18 and other small subunit processome components. Disruption of HEATR3 leads to impaired 18S rRNA processing, blocking the production of functional small ribosomal subunits and consequently reducing global protein synthesis.
In the context of SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, where ribosome biogenesis is often hyperactivated to support rapid proliferation, knockout of HEATR3 provides a powerful tool to dissect the dependency of liver cancer cells on efficient translation. This polyclonal knockout population is particularly suited for studying how defects in ribosomal subunit assembly influence tumor cell growth, survival, and sensitivity to therapeutic agents that target the translational machinery or upstream oncogenic signals such as MYC and mTOR.
The HEATR3 Knockout SK-HEP-1 Polyclonal Cells are ideal for a range of applications, including evaluation of ribosome biogenesis by western blotting of ribosomal proteins, RT-qPCR analysis of pre-rRNA intermediates, and polysome profiling to assess translational efficiency. They may also be employed in cell proliferation and colony formation assays, drug sensitivity screening, and synthetic lethality studies aimed at identifying vulnerabilities specific to cells with compromised ribosome assembly. For further details or to inquire about this product, please contact Ascent Research.
