The HOXB5 Knockout HEK293T Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited population of HEK293T cells with targeted disruption of the HOXB5 gene. As a polyclonal pool, this product encompasses a spectrum of editing events, avoiding clonal selection biases and providing a robust loss-of-function model for functional genomics studies.
HEK293T is a widely used human embryonic kidney epithelial cell line immortalized by sheared adenovirus 5 DNA. It features high transfection efficiency and stable expression of the SV40 large T antigen, facilitating episomal plasmid replication. These characteristics, combined with adherent growth and reliable culture properties, make HEK293T an ideal host for studying gene function in a well-characterized cellular environment.
HOXB5 functions as a homeodomain transcription factor that orchestrates anterior-posterior patterning, hematopoiesis, and stem cell maintenance. It acts by binding DNA in complex with PBX and MEIS cofactors such as PBX1, MEIS1, and PREP1. Upstream, HOXB5 responds to retinoic acid, Wnt ligands, FGF, and TGF-?? signals. Downstream, it transcriptionally regulates targets including PTEN, CDX2, BCL2, p21, integrin beta-1, and E-cadherin, thereby controlling cell proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion. These interactions position HOXB5 at the intersection of developmental and oncogenic pathways.
In the HEK293T background, HOXB5 knockout provides a tractable system to dissect its transcriptional network. HEK293T cells express key cofactors and signaling components relevant to HOXB5 biology, enabling the study of HOXB5-dependent regulation of PTEN/AKT and other pathways. The polyclonal nature captures diverse loss-of-function effects, useful for identifying dominant phenotypes in proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. This model supports investigations into how disruption of HOXB5 alters downstream gene expression and cellular behavior, without the limitations of clonal variation.
Researchers can employ this knockout model in a broad range of assays. Transcriptional profiling via RNA-seq or RT-qPCR reveals expression changes in targets like PTEN, p21, and CDX2. Protein-level validation by Western blotting complements functional studies using flow cytometry for cell cycle and apoptosis, proliferation assays, and migration assays. Luciferase reporter assays assess HOXB5 transcriptional activity, while co-immunoprecipitation confirms interactions with PBX1 or MEIS1. These applications make the product valuable for cancer biology, developmental biology, and drug target validation. For further details, please contact Ascent Research.
