α-actinin-2 CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (m2): sc-418971-KO-2

Overview

Actn2 encodes α-actinin-2, a Ca2+-sensitive actin-binding protein that crosslinks filamentous actin and anchors actin networks to membrane and adhesion complexes. In striated muscle, α-actinin-2 is a core Z-disc component that stabilizes sarcomere architecture and supports mechanotransduction during contraction, with broader roles in cytoskeletal organization and force transmission. Through interactions with actin filaments and signaling/adaptor proteins, it influences pathways governing cell shape, migration, and muscle cell integrity. Genetic and functional perturbation of ACTN2 is associated with cardiomyopathy and skeletal muscle dysfunction, making it a relevant target for studying contractile apparatus homeostasis and disease-associated cytoskeletal remodeling in mouse models.

α-actinin-2 CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (m2) is a pool of plasmids designed for targeted disruption of the Actn2 gene in mouse cell lines. Each plasmid in the pool co-expresses a unique sgRNA, targeting a distinct site within the Actn2 locus, alongside the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 nuclease, and encodes GFP to enable fluorescent identification and enrichment of successfully transfected cells. This multi-guide strategy increases the likelihood of inducing frameshifts or deletions that produce a functional knockout, offering a more robust alternative to single-guide approaches. DSBs induced at multiple sites are resolved through non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or, when used with the included HDR donor template, homology-directed repair (HDR) at a defined target site within the locus.

When used in conjunction with the RFP-expressing HDR donor, GFP and RFP fluorescence can be used together to distinguish transfected from edited cell populations, streamlining flow cytometry-based sorting and clone selection workflows.

Homology-Directed Repair (HDR) Donor — Puromycin Cassette with RFP Reporter

For applications requiring confirmed, selectable knockout clones, α-actinin-2 HDR Plasmid (m2) includes an HDR donor construct containing a puromycin resistance cassette (PuroR) and a red fluorescent protein (RFP) reporter, flanked by homology arms specific to a defined Actn2 target site.
When co-transfected with α-actinin-2 CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (m2):

• The PuroR-RFP cassette integrates at the Cas9 cut site via HDR, disrupting the Actn2 open reading frame.
• RFP fluorescence provides an immediate visual indicator of successful integration, enabling fluorescence-based identification or sorting of edited cells prior to or alongside puromycin selection.
• Successfully edited cells are confirmed through puromycin resistance, substantially reducing clone screening burden.
• This selection strategy is ideal for generating stable, clonal KO cell lines for downstream functional studies, drug screening, or model development.

Cre-lox Cassette Removal System

The HDR donor construct features loxP sites flanking the PuroR-RFP selection cassette to allow clean marker removal following clone confirmation. Transient expression of Cre recombinase via the included Cre Vector: sc-418923 excises the cassette, leaving a minimal residual loxP site within the Actn2 locus and eliminating potential confounding effects on downstream assays.
This two-step approach:

• Minimizes disruption to local chromatin architecture and neighboring regulatory elements
• Restores a near-native genomic context at the edited locus
• Enables reuse of the puromycin selection strategy in the same cell line for additional edits

Key Features

• gRNA targeting Actn2 exon(s) critical for α-actinin-2 function
• Co-expression of SpCas9 and sgRNA from a single plasmid for simplified delivery
• HDR donor with puromycin resistance for positive clone selection
• loxP-flanked PuroR cassette with Cre recombinase vector for seamless marker removal
• Supplied ready to use for delivery by transfection

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