Browsing by Subject "HEK293"

Mutations in the KCNQ1 gene have been implicated in the onset of hypopituitarism. Regulating KCNQ1 expression would therefore enable future clinical research on the mechanism of the disease. CRISPR offers a flexible toolset for controlling genetic expression via knockout, knock-in, knockdown, and gene activation. Of these approaches, CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) is distinguished by its ability to induce gene overexpression in a cell’s native context, making it a valuable tool in the interrogation of genetic disorder pathogenesis. This thesis therefore tested the efficacy of a CRISPRa subsystem in increasing KCNQ1 expression. The CRISPRa subsystem, VPR, was chosen because of its high activation efficiency and the ease of controlling the activation system of its doxycycline-inducible mode of action. The cell line used for the experiment, HEK293, was similarly chosen because of its ease of culture and transfection. To validate the proper functioning of the activation system, expression rates of the related genes ASCL1 and GHRH were measured as positive controls. The activation system successfully upregulated the expression rates of the two genes. As the dCas9-VPR system is dependent on the Tet-ON operator for inducing activation in a controllable manner, a test for dCas9 leakage was conducted. RT-qPCR analysis showed the upregulation of ASCL1 expression in the uninduced state of the system, confirming the presence of dCas9-VPR leakage. The dCas9-VPR system finally aimed to test the expression rate of KCNQ1. Although one novel guide RNA successfully upregulated KCNQ1 expression, it did so inefficiently and its success was not shared by any of the other tested guide RNAs. Altogether, the dCas9-VPR system was successfully established in HEK293 cells, and the leakage of the inducible system was confirmed, however, KCNQ1 activation by CRISPRa requires further optimization.

Investigating the role of cell membrane proteins has increased over the last decade, as drugdrug interactions and genetic polymorphisms have been found to cause changes in drug pharmacokinetics and dynamics. In this study the characteristics of the OATP1B1 transporter were reviewed and new in vitro research method to study protein functions was developed. Human Embryonic Kidney cells (HEK) is a human derived mammalian cell-line that is widely used in the study of OATP1B1 transporter. The Sf9 cell line is isolated from Spodoptera frugiperda insect and is one of the standard in vitro tools in a genetic engineering study. In the experimental part of this thesis the goal was to express OATP1B1 transporter in Sf9 and HEK293 cell lines. The wild-type SLCO1B1-gene encoding the OATP1B1 was virulent with baculovirus into the cells by the Bac-to-Bac® Baculovirus Expression System. For expression in the Sf9 cells, the aim of the study was to clone the SLCO1B1-gene into the pFastBac vector. The cloning was not successful in this study although attempts were made for several approaches. The expression of OATP1B1 transporter in HEK293 cells was successful. HEK293 cells expressing OATP1B1 transporter are well suited for the study of the SLCO1B1-gene. The in vitro method developed in this study remains in the research team as a tool to investigate the polymorphisms of the SLCO1B1-gene, the inhibition of the transporter and possible drug interactions.