Mfn1/Mitofusin 1 CRISPR Activation Plasmid (m): sc-426545-ACT

Mouse Mfn1 encodes mitofusin 1, a dynamin-related GTPase on the outer mitochondrial membrane that mediates mitochondrial tethering and fusion to maintain network connectivity and bioenergetic capacity. MFN1 cooperates with MFN2 during outer membrane fusion and functionally couples with inner membrane fusion and cristae organization programs to support oxidative phosphorylation, calcium handling, and mitochondrial DNA stability. By shaping mitochondrial morphology, MFN1 influences mitophagy and apoptosis signaling, linking mitochondrial quality control to cellular stress responses. Dysregulated mitochondrial fusion–fission balance involving MFN1 is relevant to studies of neurodegeneration, cardiometabolic stress, and developmental phenotypes where mitochondrial dynamics impact tissue homeostasis.

Mfn1/Mitofusin 1 CRISPR Activation Plasmid (m) provides a targeted, non-destructive approach to upregulating endogenous Mfn1 expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.

Mfn1/Mitofusin 1 CRISPR Activation Plasmid (m) is a three-plasmid synergistic activation mediator (SAM) system engineered for highly efficient, site-specific transcriptional upregulation of the Mfn1 locus in human cell lines. The system is built around a catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9) carrying two inactivating mutations (D10A and N863A) that eliminate nuclease activity while preserving DNA binding. This dCas9 is fused to VP64, a potent transcriptional activator, and is co-expressed with a blasticidin resistance gene for selection. The second plasmid encodes the MS2-p65-HSF1 fusion protein, a secondary activator complex that works in concert with dCas9-VP64, alongside a hygromycin resistance gene. The third plasmid encodes a target-specific 20 nt sgRNA fused to two MS2 RNA aptamers that recruit the MS2-p65-HSF1 complex to the activation site, accompanied by a puromycin resistance gene. The three plasmids are delivered at a 1:1:1 mass ratio for balanced expression of all system components.

Once assembled at the target locus, the SAM complex binds within approximately 200 bp upstream of the Mfn1 transcriptional start site, where VP64, p65, and HSF1 act in concert to recruit transcriptional machinery and drive upregulation of endogenous Mfn1/Mitofusin 1 expression. Unlike nuclease-active Cas9, dCas9 does not introduce double-strand breaks or modify the genomic sequence, preserving the native Mfn1 locus and enabling the study of Mfn1/Mitofusin 1-dependent transcriptional responses at the endogenous locus, making it a valuable tool for functional studies, target gene identification, and the modeling of Mfn1/Mitofusin 1 pathway restoration in tumor cells with silenced or reduced Mfn1 expression.

For Research Use Only. Not Intended for Diagnostic or Therapeutic Use.