
Ordering Information
| Product Name | Catalog # | UNIT | Price | Qty | FAVORITES | |
Unc18-1 CRISPR Activation Plasmid (h) | sc-403761-ACT | 20 µg | $397.00 |
STXBP1 encodes Unc18-1, a Sec1/Munc18 family protein that binds syntaxin-1 and coordinates SNARE complex assembly to control Ca²⁺-triggered synaptic vesicle docking and fusion. Through regulation of neurotransmitter release and presynaptic vesicle cycling, Unc18-1 supports neuronal network excitability and synaptic plasticity. Disruption of STXBP1-dependent exocytosis impacts vesicle trafficking and membrane fusion pathways central to synaptic transmission. Genetic variation and altered expression of STXBP1 are associated with neurodevelopmental and epileptic phenotypes, making this locus broadly relevant for mechanistic studies of neuronal dysfunction.
Unc18-1 CRISPR Activation Plasmid (h) provides a targeted, non-destructive approach to upregulating endogenous STXBP1 expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.
Unc18-1 CRISPR Activation Plasmid (h) is a three-plasmid synergistic activation mediator (SAM) system engineered for highly efficient, site-specific transcriptional upregulation of the STXBP1 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 STXBP1 transcriptional start site, where VP64, p65, and HSF1 act in concert to recruit transcriptional machinery and drive upregulation of endogenous Unc18-1 expression. Unlike nuclease-active Cas9, dCas9 does not introduce double-strand breaks or modify the genomic sequence, preserving the native STXBP1 locus and enabling the study of Unc18-1-dependent transcriptional responses at the endogenous locus, making it a valuable tool for functional studies, target gene identification, and the modeling of Unc18-1 pathway restoration in tumor cells with silenced or reduced STXBP1 expression.
For Research Use Only. Not Intended for Diagnostic or Therapeutic Use.