Homer-2a/b CRISPR Activation Plasmid (h): sc-402910-ACT

HOMER2 encodes the scaffold protein Homer-2a/b, a postsynaptic density component that couples group I metabotropic glutamate receptors to intracellular effectors including IP3 receptors, Shank complexes, and TRPC channels. By organizing receptor–effector assemblies, Homer-2a/b regulates Ca2+ signaling, synaptic plasticity, activity-dependent transcriptional programs, and cytoskeletal remodeling in excitable cells. HOMER2-dependent signaling has been implicated in neural circuit function and neuroadaptation, and altered expression or network connectivity of HOMER family scaffolds is associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental phenotypes. In addition to CNS contexts, HOMER2 contributes to broader GPCR signaling architecture, making it relevant for studies of stimulus–response coupling and protein complex dynamics.

Homer-2a/b CRISPR Activation Plasmid (h) provides a targeted, non-destructive approach to upregulating endogenous HOMER2 expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.

Homer-2a/b CRISPR Activation Plasmid (h) is a three-plasmid synergistic activation mediator (SAM) system engineered for highly efficient, site-specific transcriptional upregulation of the HOMER2 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 HOMER2 transcriptional start site, where VP64, p65, and HSF1 act in concert to recruit transcriptional machinery and drive upregulation of endogenous Homer-2a/b expression. Unlike nuclease-active Cas9, dCas9 does not introduce double-strand breaks or modify the genomic sequence, preserving the native HOMER2 locus and enabling the study of Homer-2a/b-dependent transcriptional responses at the endogenous locus, making it a valuable tool for functional studies, target gene identification, and the modeling of Homer-2a/b pathway restoration in tumor cells with silenced or reduced HOMER2 expression.

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