NENF Knockout Raji Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population derived from the Raji B lymphocyte line, offering a loss-of-function model for the NENF (neudesin) gene in a human Burkitt’s lymphoma background. The polyclonal nature captures diverse gene disruptions, enabling studies of heterogeneous pathway responses without clonal selection bias.
The Raji cell line, established from an EBV-positive Burkitt’s lymphoma, is a suspension-adapted B lymphoblastoid model widely used for studies of humoral immunity, B-cell receptor signaling, and lymphomagenesis. These cells express immunoglobulin and maintain active MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways that support robust proliferation and survival, providing an ideal platform to interrogate gene function in lymphoid malignancies with well-characterized signaling biology.
NENF (neudesin) is a secreted heme-binding protein that acts as a neurotrophic factor, promoting neuronal survival and differentiation through activation of the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling cascades. Heme binding to NENF facilitates interaction with a putative cell-surface receptor, triggering phosphorylation of MAPK1/3 (ERK1/2) and AKT1. These kinases subsequently upregulate anti-apoptotic factors like BCL2, integrating metabolic heme availability with transcriptional programs that sustain cell viability.
In the context of Raji B lymphocytes, NENF knockout may disrupt the balance between proliferation and apoptosis, as both MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt are central to B-cell survival and lymphomagenesis. Loss of NENF is anticipated to attenuate downstream ERK1/2 and AKT1 phosphorylation, thereby reducing BCL2 expression and sensitizing cells to apoptotic stimuli. This knockout model thus serves as a valuable tool to decipher how heme-responsive neurotrophic signals influence B-cell lymphomagenesis and to explore NENF as a potential therapeutic target in hematologic cancers.
Typical applications include investigating neurotrophic factor signaling in B-cell biology, characterizing heme?Cprotein interactions in cancer, and identifying small-molecule modulators of NENF-mediated pathways. Researchers can use Western blotting to measure phospho-ERK and phospho-Akt levels, RT-qPCR to verify NENF transcript disruption, flow cytometry with Annexin V to assess apoptosis, and CFSE-based proliferation assays to evaluate growth impairments. For batch-specific validation and technical support, please contact Ascent Research.
