The HK1 Knockout SK-HEP-1 Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population derived from the SK-HEP-1 human hepatocellular carcinoma line, with targeted disruption of the HK1 gene. This product provides a loss-of-function model for studying hexokinase 1 (HK1) in cellular metabolism and cancer biology. The heterogeneous polyclonal pool, generated via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene disruption, avoids clonal selection biases and is ideal for robust functional investigations.
SK-HEP-1 is a human hepatic adenocarcinoma cell line originally established from the ascites of a patient with liver cancer. This epithelial cell line retains key oncogenic features, including deregulated growth signaling and aberrant metabolism, making it a widely employed model for hepatocellular carcinoma research. Its malignant origin provides a pathophysiologically relevant platform for interrogating the metabolic dependencies altered by HK1 loss.
HK1 phosphorylates glucose to glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), catalyzing the rate-limiting step of glycolysis and committing glucose to catabolism. HK1 is regulated by insulin/PI3K/Akt signaling, which promotes mitochondrial binding, and by hypoxia via HIF1?? transcriptional induction. At the outer mitochondrial membrane, HK1 interacts with VDAC, BAD, and porin, linking metabolism to apoptosis. Downstream, G6P feeds glycolysis (via PFK and pyruvate kinase) and the pentose phosphate pathway (via G6PD), influencing redox balance and biosynthesis. Thus, HK1 integrates hormonal, hypoxic, and nutrient signals to control energy production.
In SK-HEP-1 cells, HK1 upregulation contributes to the Warburg effect, sustaining aerobic glycolysis for rapid proliferation. Disruption of HK1 in this polyclonal model impairs glycolytic flux and lactate production, likely shifting cells toward oxidative phosphorylation and increasing sensitivity to metabolic stress. This makes the model valuable for exploring cancer metabolic dependencies, hexokinase deficiency, and diabetes-related metabolic dysfunction, particularly in a hepatic context.
These knockout cells are suitable for a variety of downstream applications, including investigation of glycolytic inhibition, metabolic reprogramming, and assessment of anti-cancer metabolic therapies. Representative assays such as western blotting for HK1 expression, hexokinase activity assays, glucose uptake and lactate production measurements, Seahorse metabolic flux analysis, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence can be readily applied. The polyclonal cell population offers experimental consistency and is amenable to high-throughput screening. For detailed technical specifications and support, please contact Ascent Research.
