E2F-4 CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (h): sc-400851

Overview

E2F4 encodes E2F-4, a member of the E2F transcription factor family that primarily functions as a transcriptional repressor in complex with DP proteins and pocket proteins such as p107/RBL1 and p130/RBL2. E2F-4 regulates genes controlling G0/G1 transition, cell-cycle exit, and differentiation programs, linking mitogenic signaling to coordinated suppression of S-phase gene expression. It participates in RB/E2F network control of chromatin and transcription, with context-dependent roles in proliferation, senescence, and lineage commitment. Dysregulation of E2F-4 activity and its upstream RB pathway interactions is frequently associated with altered cell-cycle control in cancer and other proliferative disorders, supporting its use as a mechanistic node in oncogenic signaling studies.

E2F-4 CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (h) is a pool of plasmids designed for targeted disruption of the E2F4 gene in human cell lines. Each plasmid in the pool co-expresses a unique sgRNA, targeting a distinct site within the E2F4 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, E2F-4 HDR Plasmid (h) 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 E2F4 target site.
When co-transfected with E2F-4 CRISPR/Cas9 KO Plasmid (h):

• The PuroR-RFP cassette integrates at the Cas9 cut site via HDR, disrupting the E2F4 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 E2F4 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 E2F4 exon(s) critical for E2F-4 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.