MC1-R CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (m): sc-421583

Overview

Mc1r encodes the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1-R), a G protein–coupled receptor expressed prominently in melanocytes where it regulates pigmentation by coupling to Gs and stimulating cAMP/PKA signaling. MC1-R activation influences the balance of eumelanin versus pheomelanin synthesis through downstream effectors including CREB and melanogenic enzymes, integrating hormonal cues such as α-MSH and antagonism by agouti signaling protein. In mouse models, altered Mc1r activity modulates coat color phenotypes and intersects with pathways controlling oxidative stress responses and UV-induced damage handling in pigment cells. Because melanocortin signaling interfaces with MAPK and transcriptional programs governing melanocyte differentiation, Mc1r perturbation is useful for studying pigment cell biology, inflammation-related signaling crosstalk, and genotype-to-phenotype mapping in dermatologic research contexts.

MC1-R CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (m) is a pool of plasmids designed for targeted disruption of the Mc1r gene in mouse cell lines. Each plasmid co-expresses a unique single guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting a distinct site within the Mc1r together with the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 nuclease. The plasmids also encode GFP, allowing fluorescent identification and enrichment of successfully transfected cells by fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry.

The multi-guide design increases the likelihood of generating insertions or deletions (indels) that disrupt the Mc1r open reading frame following Cas9-mediated double-strand break formation. DNA breaks introduced by the CRISPR/Cas9 system are repaired through endogenous non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways, frequently resulting in frameshift mutations that abolish MC1-R protein expression.

This CRISPR knockout system enables efficient generation of Mc1r-deficient cell models for investigation of MC1-R signaling, functional genomics studies, cancer biology research, and evaluation of therapeutic responses in human cell lines.

Key Features

• sgRNAs targeting Mc1r exon(s) critical for MC1-R function
• Co-expression of SpCas9 and sgRNA from a single plasmid for simplified delivery
• GFP reporter for identification of transfected cells
• Pool of plasmids targeting multiple Mc1r genomic sites to improve knockout efficiency
• Compatible with delivery by transfection

Design Variants

CRISPRs +/- HDRs

• gRNAs encoded by MC1-R CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (m) and MC1-R CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (m2) target distinct sites within the Mc1r locus. One or both targeting designs may be available. See Related Products for availability.
• HDR donor constructs encoded by MC1-R HDR Plasmid (m) and MC1-R HDR Plasmid (m2) contain a puromycin resistance cassette and an RFP reporter flanked by Mc1r homology arms to support homology-directed repair at defined Mc1r target sites corresponding to the CRISPR/Cas9 KO designs. HDR donor availability may vary. See Related Products for availability.

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