The HOMEZ knockout SK-HEP-1 polyclonal cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population designed to disrupt the HOMEZ gene, providing a loss-of-function model for functional studies. This heterogeneous pool of edited cells avoids clonal selection bias and serves as a ready-to-use system for investigating the role of the homeodomain leucine zipper transcription factor HOMEZ in a hepatic adenocarcinoma background.
SK-HEP-1 is a well-established cell line derived from the ascitic fluid of a patient with liver adenocarcinoma, serving as an in vitro model of human hepatocellular carcinoma. These cells exhibit both epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics, making them particularly relevant for studying tumor progression, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and metastatic behavior. Their robust growth and well-documented response to experimental manipulations underpin their widespread use in cancer biology.
HOMEZ encodes a transcription factor containing a homeodomain for sequence-specific DNA binding and a leucine zipper motif that mediates dimerization with other regulatory proteins. It is predicted to function within transcriptional networks governing development and differentiation, possibly regulated by upstream signals such as Wnt and Notch pathways. Through interactions with leucine zipper partners, coactivators, and corepressors, HOMEZ modulates target genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Its conserved structural domains position it as a key node in gene expression control.
Disrupting HOMEZ in the SK-HEP-1 context creates a powerful platform to dissect its role in hepatocellular carcinoma biology. The mixed epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype of the host line enables assessment of HOMEZ function in both states, which is critical for understanding its contribution to oncogenic transcriptional reprogramming, cell growth, and invasiveness. This model helps uncover the molecular dependencies driven by HOMEZ in liver cancer cells.
This polyclonal knockout product supports a wide range of applications, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis assays, as well as drug sensitivity testing. Molecular analyses such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting allow comprehensive profiling of transcriptional changes and direct target identification. It is an ideal tool for functional genomics, pathway dissection, and drug target validation in liver cancer research. For further information, please contact Ascent Research.
