The KRT20 Knockout A2780 Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population originating from the human ovarian carcinoma cell line A2780. This product provides targeted disruption of the KRT20 gene, generating a heterogeneous loss-of-function system suitable for studying the collective consequences of keratin 20 ablation. The polyclonal format ensures representation of diverse genetic edits while retaining the parental line??s epithelial characteristics. This model is intended for advanced applications in cancer research, cytoskeletal biology, and drug development.
A2780 is a well-established human ovarian carcinoma cell line derived from an untreated patient. It exhibits adherent growth and an epithelial phenotype, serving as a standard model for ovarian adenocarcinoma. These cells express keratins and form cell?Ccell adhesions, making them a relevant platform for investigating intermediate filament dynamics. Combined with KRT20 knockout, the A2780 background enables dissection of keratin contributions to tumor cell behavior, including proliferation, adhesion, and drug sensitivity.
KRT20 encodes the type I intermediate filament protein keratin 20, which obligately heterodimerizes with keratin 8 (KRT8) to assemble cytoskeletal filaments. Its expression is transcriptionally regulated by CDX2, GATA4, and GATA6, and is also induced by retinoic acid. Keratin 20 integrates into desmosomes via associations with desmoplakin and plakoglobin, and it interacts with 14-3-3 proteins upon phosphorylation, linking filament organization to apoptosis. Through these interactions, KRT20 modulates cell migration, adhesion, and mechanical resilience, with its disruption predicted to impair epithelial integrity.
In A2780 ovarian carcinoma cells, KRT20 knockout provides a powerful system to study how keratin filaments influence tumor malignancy. Although A2780 is not a mucinous line, it allows exploration of keratin-dependent processes such as collective migration, anoikis resistance, and cytotoxic drug response. Given the established role of KRT20 as a biomarker in colorectal, gastric, urothelial, and Merkel cell carcinomas, this model facilitates cross-tissue comparisons. Researchers can examine alterations in adhesion molecules, 14-3-3 signaling, and other keratin expression, shedding light on the molecular basis of epithelial tumor architecture.
Research applications include investigating cytoskeletal dynamics, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastatic behavior. These cells are well-suited for drug screening assays targeting keratin integrity or phosphorylation pathways. Typical experiments involve Western blotting for KRT20 and binding partners, immunofluorescence analysis of keratin networks, and functional assays such as wound healing, transwell invasion, and cell adhesion measurements. Flow cytometry for apoptosis and RNA-seq transcriptomics can further define downstream pathways. This polyclonal knockout population serves as a versatile tool for uncovering KRT20-dependent vulnerabilities. For additional information or custom projects, please contact Ascent Research.
