C. elegans ced-4 Functional Gene Editing Service

Service Overview Precision editing of CED-4 in a premier genetic model for cell death research

ced-4 encodes the central adaptor of the C. elegans apoptosis pathway. Analogous to mammalian APAF1, CED-4 nucleates a caspase-activation platform (the apoptosome) that drives CED-3 maturation and downstream substrate cleavage. As such, ced-4 is the linchpin between the regulatory triad (EGL-1 / CED-9) and the executioner CED-3.

CD BioSciences provides an optimized, full-stack CRISPR/Cas9 platform for C. elegans. We design and deliver custom ced-4 alleles — including targeted knockouts, fluorescent or epitope tag knockins, and site-specific point mutations — with complete genotype verification and a transparent reporting package.

About the Target Gene: ced-4 Key biological and practical facts to inform your edit design

Gene symbol	ced-4 (Apoptosis activator (Apaf-1 homolog))
Protein product	CED-4 — Apaf-1-like apoptosis adaptor
Mammalian homolog	APAF1 (mammalian Apaf-1)
Biological role	Adaptor that scaffolds CED-3 caspase activation; core component of the C. elegans apoptosome-like complex.
Loss-of-function phenotype	Loss of ced-4 blocks essentially all programmed somatic cell deaths; animals viable with extra cells.
Why edit it	Foundational model for apoptosome assembly, intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptosis, and cancer drug resistance linked to apoptosome defects.
Recommended background	N2 (wild type); can be crossed into reporter or co-CRISPR selection backgrounds.
Representative allele	Standard knockout (ok / tm / gk series); reference alleles widely available.

Fig. 1 Conserved apoptosis pathway in C. elegans. The highlighted (amber) node marks the editing target.

ced-4 at a glance: blocks essentially all programmed somatic cell deaths; a clean Apaf-1-like apoptosis-deficient model. Editing ced-4 alone is a powerful way to dissect CED-4 function in vivo, with conserved relevance to human APAF1 biology.

Our ced-4 Editing Strategies Choose the allele that matches your experimental question

Gene Knockout

gRNA-guided Cas9 cutting with NHEJ repair to introduce frameshift indels, generating premature stop codons and null / strong-loss-of-function ced-4 alleles.

Knockin & Tagging

Homology-directed repair (HDR) inserts GFP / HA / FLAG or other tags at the ced-4 locus for endogenous expression and subcellular localization studies.

Point Mutation

Introduce specific amino-acid substitutions to dissect functional domains and separate catalytic from scaffolding roles of CED-4.

Conditional & Reporter Alleles

Build tissue-specific or inducible configurations and reporter lines for spatiotemporal analysis of CED-4 function.

Workflow of Our ced-4 Editing Service From sequence to validated strain in a streamlined pipeline

Strategy Design

Define target (knockout / knockin / point mutation), select gRNA(s) and HDR template, confirm against the latest genome build.

gRNA Synthesis

Design, validate, and synthesize high-specificity guide RNAs targeting the ced-4 locus.

Vector & Template Construction

Build Cas9 / gRNA delivery construct and, for knockin, the homology-arm repair template.

Microinjection

Perform gonadal microinjection of N2 animals with CRISPR components and co-CRISPR selection markers.

Screening & Verification

PCR, Sanger / sequencing, and phenotype confirmation to isolate edited animals and verify alleles.

Delivery & Report

Provide homozygous / balanced ced-4 strains plus a full genotype and methods report.

Key Features Why researchers choose CD BioSciences for C. elegans editing

High-efficiency, optimized CRISPR / Cas9 platform for C. elegans.
Whole-process technical traceability and transparent timelines.
Flexible editing: knockout, knockin, tagging, and point mutation.
Full genotype verification before strain delivery.
One-stop model development integrated with our C. elegans portfolio.
Competitive pricing and short turnaround.
Direct access to scientists and prompt inquiry response.
Reliable, convenient global shipping of frozen stocks.

Applications Where a custom ced-4 model adds value

Apoptosome assembly mechanism (CED-4 / CED-3 scaffold).
Mammalian intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptosis via APAF1.
Cancer drug resistance linked to apoptosome defects.
Caspase-9 activation platform and cytochrome c dependency.
MOMP-driven apoptosis in development and disease.
CED-9 / CED-4 mitochondrial tethering and release studies.
Epistasis with egl-1, ced-9, and ced-3 to dissect the linear cascade.

Deliverables What you receive with every project

Genetically verified ced-4 edited strain(s) (homozygous or balanced).
Detailed genotyping report (editing strategy, allele sequence, verification data).
Methods summary and rearing / storage recommendations.
Optional: crosses into reporter or co-CRISPR selection backgrounds.
Optional: phenotype confirmation and imaging support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of ced-4 allele will I get from a knockout project?

Standard knockout projects deliver a frameshift indel allele predicted to produce a premature stop and a loss-of-function phenotype. We confirm the edit by sequencing and, where relevant, by characteristic phenotype assays.

Can you add a GFP or epitope tag to endogenous ced-4?

Yes. Using HDR with a designed repair template, we can insert GFP, HA, or FLAG tags at the C- or N-terminus while preserving endogenous promoter and regulation.

How long does a typical ced-4 editing project take?

Timelines vary with editing type and validation needs, but our optimized pipeline and co-CRISPR selection typically shorten turnaround versus conventional approaches. Contact us with your design for a project-specific estimate.

Is ced-4 essential for animal viability?

No. ced-4 loss-of-function animals are viable and fertile, but they retain the 131 cells that normally die during development. This mirrors Apaf-1 knockout in mammals, making ced-4 an exceptionally clean genetic null.

Start Your ced-4 Editing Project

CD BioSciences is committed to convenient, efficient, and cost-effective C. elegans model customization. Tell us your target design — knockout, knockin, tagging, or point mutation — and our scientists will respond with a tailored plan and quote.

References
1. Kim H. M., Colaiácovo M. P. CRISPR-Cas9-guided genome engineering in C. elegans. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, 2016, 115(1): 31.7.1–31.7.18.
2. Riedl S. J., Shi Y. Molecular mechanisms of caspase regulation during apoptosis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2004, 5(11): 897-907.

For research use only.