This cell line has been engineered for use with the CRISPR Synergistic Activation Mediator (SAM) system to induce transcriptional activation and expression of any gene of interest. Cells stably express a mutated dCas9 (Streptococcus pyogenes CRISPR associated protein 9), lacking any endonuclease activity, fused to VP64, a transcriptional activator. Stable dCas9-VP64 expression is maintained with Blasticidin resistance. Cells also stably express P65 (Transcription Factor p65, or Nuclear Factor NF-kappaB p65) and HSF1 (Heat Shock Factor 1) fused with an MS2 tag, which is maintained with Hygromycin resistance. When these cells are transfected with an MS2-tagged sgRNA targeting the promoter region of the gene of interest, dCas9-VP64 and MS2-P65-HSF1 are recruited to the site in the genomic DNA and begin transcription, inducing expression of the desired gene.
