HOMEZ Knockout HEK293T Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population derived from HEK293T cells, designed for loss-of-function studies of the HOMEZ transcription factor. The polyclonal format captures a range of gene disruptions across the cell pool, enabling robust functional genomics analyses without clonal selection. This product provides researchers with a ready-to-use model for investigating HOMEZ-mediated transcriptional regulation.
The host cell line, HEK293T, is a widely utilized human embryonic kidney epithelial cell line that stably expresses the SV40 large T antigen. This feature enhances episomal replication of plasmids containing the SV40 origin of replication, resulting in high transfection efficiency and elevated protein expression. HEK293T cells are a standard platform for lentivirus and retrovirus production, CRISPR library screening, and transient or stable overexpression experiments. Their epithelial origin and robust growth characteristics make them an ideal host for generating gene knockout models to study cell signaling and gene regulatory networks.
HOMEZ encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor that is predicted to bind specific DNA sequences and modulate the expression of genes involved in development and cell identity. It likely functions within transcriptional regulatory complexes containing PBX, MEIS, and PREP family homeodomain proteins. HOMEZ activity is modulated by upstream signals from Wnt ligands (e.g., WNT3A) via Frizzled receptors and ??-catenin/TCF-LEF modules, as well as retinoic acid receptors and FGF family members like FGF8. HOMEZ likely regulates downstream developmental genes, including HOX family members and other effectors governing cell fate determination, proliferation, and differentiation. Disruption of HOMEZ in this polyclonal knockout model permits dissection of its precise roles in these pathways and the identification of direct transcriptional targets.
Generating a HOMEZ knockout in the HEK293T background offers a versatile experimental system for probing homeobox transcription factor function in a highly tractable cellular context. The HEK293T line??s ease of manipulation facilitates the introduction of reporters, rescue constructs, or additional perturbations to complement the knockout phenotype. Researchers can assess changes in cell proliferation, morphology, and differentiation potential, linking HOMEZ to specific cellular outcomes. This model is particularly valuable for investigating crosstalk between Wnt, retinoic acid, and FGF signaling pathways and for elucidating how HOMEZ coordinates transcription factor networks to maintain cellular identity or drive developmental transitions.
Typical applications include functional genomics studies using RNA-seq or ChIP-seq to map HOMEZ-dependent transcriptomes and genomic binding sites, co-immunoprecipitation with partners such as PBX or MEIS, and phenotypic assays such as cell proliferation and differentiation analyses. These cells support high-throughput CRISPR screening, reporter gene assays for pathway activity, and immunofluorescence to assess subcellular localization. These knockout cells support mechanistic investigations into the contribution of HOMEZ to congenital anomalies and cancer biology. For technical inquiries, contact Ascent Research.
