Epigenetic manipulation to improve mouse SCNT embryonic development

Yamei Li; Qiang Sun

doi:10.3389/fgene.2022.932867

Epigenetic manipulation to improve mouse SCNT embryonic development

Front Genet. 2022 Aug 30:13:932867. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.932867. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yamei Li^{1

2

3}, Qiang Sun^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
² Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
³ Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Cloned mammals can be achieved through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), which involves reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells into a totipotent state. However, low cloning efficiency hampers its application severely. Cloned embryos have the same DNA as donor somatic cells. Therefore, incomplete epigenetic reprogramming accounts for low development of cloned embryos. In this review, we describe recent epigenetic barriers in SCNT embryos and strategies to correct these epigenetic defects and avoid the occurrence of abnormalities in cloned animals.

Keywords: cloning efficiency; epigenetic barriers; post-implantation; pre-implantation; somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Publication types

Review