Description

The SLC8B1 Knockout HeLa Cell Line is a CRISPR/Cas9-edited knockout cell line that disrupts the SLC8B1 gene, which encodes the mitochondrial sodium/calcium exchanger NCLX. This loss-of-function model establishes a controlled genetic background for dissecting mitochondrial calcium handling and its implications for cellular physiology. The cell line is provided as a ready-to-use culture, facilitating direct integration into mitochondrial research programs.

The host HeLa line is an immortalized cervical adenocarcinoma cell line positive for human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18). HeLa cells are extensively utilized in biomedical research owing to their robust proliferation, ease of genetic engineering, and epithelial origin. While the primary utility of this knockout centers on mitochondrial ion transport, the adenocarcinoma background also permits investigations at the intersection of calcium signaling and cancer cell biology.

SLC8B1 (NCLX) operates as the principal mitochondrial sodium/calcium exchanger, mediating the extrusion of calcium from the mitochondrial matrix in exchange for sodium ions. This activity is essential for preventing mitochondrial calcium overload and the consequent opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). The transporter is modulated by upstream factors including cytosolic calcium concentration, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular ATP levels. Its activity directly impacts downstream mitochondrial calcium dynamics, thereby influencing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, ATP synthesis, and the initiation of apoptotic cascades. NCLX functions in coordination with the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) for calcium uptake and is integrated with voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC) and IP3 receptors at endoplasmic reticulum?Cmitochondria contact sites.

In HeLa cells, disruption of SLC8B1 abolishes the major route for mitochondrial calcium efflux, leading to pathological mitochondrial calcium accumulation in response to cytosolic calcium elevations. This imbalance perturbs sodium-calcium exchange and impairs metabolic regulation, manifesting as heightened ROS production and an increased propensity for apoptosis. As a result, the model provides a defined system for examining how mitochondrial calcium overload contributes to cell death decisions in epithelial cells, particularly under conditions of oxidative stress or metabolic challenge.

This knockout cell line supports a range of experimental approaches, including real-time mitochondrial calcium imaging with genetically encoded indicators and Seahorse metabolic flux analysis to assess changes in oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. It is well-suited for modeling ischemia-reperfusion injury, calcium dysregulation in cardiac arrhythmias, and mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration. The line also enables high-throughput screening of calcium modulators and detailed apoptosis profiling through western blotting for markers such as cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome c release. For additional details or technical support, please contact Ascent Research.