Whole-genome methylation analysis reveals epigenetic variation between wild-type and nontransgenic cloned,ASMT transgenic cloned dairy goats generated by the somatic cell nuclear transfer

Background:SCNT(somatic cell nuclear transfer)is of great significance to biological research and also to the livestock breeding.However,the survival rate of the SCNT cloned animals is relatively low compared to other transgenic methods.This indicates the potential epigenetic variations between them.DNA methylation is a key marker of mammalian epigenetics and its alterations will lead to phenotypic differences.In this study,ASMT(acetylserotonin-Omethyltransferase)ovarian overexpression transgenic goat was produced by using SCNT.To investigate whether there are epigenetic differences between cloned and WT(wild type)goats,WGBS(whole-genome bisulfite sequencing)was used to measure the whole-genome methylation of these animals.Results:It is observed that the different m Cp G sites are mainly present in the intergenic and intronic regions between cloned and WT animals,and their CG-type methylation sites are strongly correlated.DMR(differentially methylated region)lengths are located around 1000 bp,mainly distributed in the exonic,intergenic and intronic functional domains.A total of 56 and 36 DMGs(differentially methylated genes)were identified by GO and KEGG databases,respectively.Functional annotation showed that DMGs were enriched in biological-process,cellularcomponent,molecular-function and other signaling pathways.A total of 10 identical genes related to growth and development were identified in GO and KEGG databases.Conclusion:The differences in methylation genes among the tested animals have been identified.A total of 10 DMGs associated with growth and development were identified between cloned and WT animals.The results indicate that the differential patterns of DNA methylation between the cloned and WT goats are probably caused by the SCNT.These novel observations will help us to further identify the unveiled mechanisms of somatic cell cloning technology,particularly in goats.

Embryonic stem cells generated by nuclear transfer of human somatic nuclei into rabbit oocytes

To solve the problem of immune incompatibility, nuclear transplantation has been envisaged as a means to produce cells or tissues for human autologous transplantation. Here we have derived embryonic stem cells by the transfer of human somatic nuclei into rabbit oocytes. The number of blastocysts that developed from the fused nuclear transfer was comparable among nuclear donors at ages of 5, 42, 52 and 60 years, and nuclear transfer (NT) embryonic stem cells (ntES cells) were subsequently derived from each of the four age groups. These results suggest that human somatic nuclei can form ntES cells independent of the age of the donor. The derived ntES cells are human based on karyotype, isogenicity, in situ hybridization, PGR and immunocytochemistry with probes that distinguish between the various species. The ntES cells maintain the capability of sustained growth in an undifferentiated state, and form embryoid bodies, which, on further induction, give rise to cell types such as neuron and muscle, as well as mixed cell populations that express markers representative of all three germ layers. Thus, ntES cells derived from human somatic cells by NT to rabbit eggs retain phenotypes similar to those of conventional human ES cells, including the ability to undergo multilineage cellular differentiation.

Highly efficient generation of GGTA1 knockout pigs using a combination of TALEN m RNA and magnetic beads with somatic cell nuclear transfer

The transcription activator-like effector nuclease(TALEN) technique combined with the somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT) method has been successfully applied for creating genetically modified pigs. However, methods for isolating cells with biallelic indels requires further improvement because of the relatively low enrichment efficiency of mutated somatic cells. Moreover, little is known regarding the off-target effects of the TALEN system and the heredity of TALEN-modified pigs. In this study, an efficient method to increase the enrichment efficiency of TALEN-mediated biallelic knockout(KO) cells was established, and corresponding genetically modified pigs with the expected genotype were generated whose off-target effect, fertility and heredity characteristics were aslo evaluated. Two TALEN pairs were constructed to target the porcine α-1,3-galactosyltransferase(GGTA1) gene locus. TALEN m RNA was transfected into the ear fibroblasts followed by the enrichment of α-Gal null cells of minipigs using isolectin B4(IB4) lectin and m agnetic beads. A total of 115 cell c olonies were formed and validated to be GGTA1 KO cells by sequencing and 10 biallelic KO cell colonies were used as nuclear donors for SCNT. Thirty GGTA1 biallelic KO piglets were successfully delivered and grew normally. Seventeen potential off-target sites were investigated, and no off-target events were detected in the live piglets. To determine t he fertility and heredity characteristics of TALEN-modified pigs, 10 mature founders w ere mated with each other and the mutations were determined to be transmitted to the F1 piglets. We established a robust and safe technology for developing genetically modified pig lines with expected genotypes for agricultural breeding and biomedical application.

Cumulus-specific genes are transcriptionally silent following somatic cell nuclear transfer in a mouse model

This study investigated whether four cumulus-specific genes: follicular stimulating hormone receptor (FSHr), hyaluronan synthase 2 (Has2), prostaglandin synthase 2 (Ptgs2) and steroidogenic acute regulator protein (Star), were correctly reprogrammed to be transcriptionally silent following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in a murine model. Cumulus cells of C57×CBA F1 female mouse were injected into enucleated oocytes, followed by activation in 10 μmol/L strontium chloride for 5 h and subsequent in vitro culture up to the blastocyst stage. Expression of cumulus-specific genes in SCNT-derived embryos at 2-cell, 4-cell and day 4.5 blastocyst stages was compared with corresponding in vivo fertilized embryos by real-time PCR. It was demonstrated that immediately after the first cell cycle, SCNT-derived 2-cell stage embryos did not express all four cumulus-specific genes, which continually remained silent at the 4-cell and blastocyst stages. It is therefore concluded that all four cumulus-specific genes were correctly reprogrammed to be silent following nuclear transfer with cumulus donor cells in the mouse model. This would imply that the poor preimplantation developmental competence of SCNT embryos derived from cumulus cells is due to incomplete reprogramming of other embryonic genes, rather than cumulus-specific genes.

Establishment of customized mouse stem cell lines by sequential nuclear transfer

治疗学的克隆，胚胎的干细胞(转换字符) 由此从原子转移(NT ) 被导出胚胎，可以在再生药的新时代起一个主要作用。Inthis 学习我们建立了四十原子转移 -- 从不同施主房间类型或段落的 NTembryos 被导出的转换字符(NT 转换字符) 线。我们发现 NT 转换字符能够形成胚胎植物或动物身体。另外， NT 转换字符表示了 pluripotency 干细胞标记试管内并且能区分进胚胎的纸巾体内。从施主房间能形成完整的术语的早经过 R1 的 NT 胚胎开发了小狗，而那些为为实时出生是必要的 reprogramming 从迟了的经过 R1 ES 施主房间失去了潜力。我们随后建立了近来从 NT 胚囊被开发的 sequentialNT-R1-ESC 线经过 R1 转换字符施主。然而，当在他们的早段落用作原子转移施主时，这些 NT-R1-ESC 排队，没能导致实时小狗。这显示用顺序的 NT 转换字符的治疗学的克隆过程不能救居住在以前的施主代的发展缺乏。

Studies on Recipient Rabbit Oocytes in Nuclear Transfer

Studies were carried out to find out the optimal parameters of enucleation and electroactivation ofrecipient rabbit oocyte for successful nuclear transfer,using the fluorescent stain,DAPI(4-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole),and electroactivation.According to the position of metaphasechromosomes in relation to the first polar body,the oocytes were classified into three types:1.thosewith chromosomes juxtaposed to the polar body;2.those with chromosomes in its adjacency; and3.those with chromosomes further removed.The relative proportions of each type appeared to varywith the time of maturation at which the oocytes were collected,with those of the later typesincreasing as the maturation process went further on.In addition,in-vitro cultivation ofelectroactivated oocytes gave the best results with oocytes that matured in-vito after injection ofovulating hormones(LH or HCG)and oocytes that were cultivated in-vitro for 17-19 hours.As aresult,it is recommended that oocytes be selected from those collected from the oviducts 13-15 hoursafter injection of LH or HCG,and electrofusion and electroactivation be done aftermicromanipulation and in-vito cultivation for 2-4 hours.By so doing,it is expected to achieve thehighest enucleation rate of oocytes and the highest fusion rate,the highest activation rate and thehighest development rate of the restructured embryos.

Production of homeobox A10 gene transgenic pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer

Homeobox A10(Hoxa10) gene is one of the most important candidate genes associated with the reproductive performance of humans and mice. Overexpression of Hoxa10 in mouse endometrium can increase litter size. Moreover, Hoxa10 plays a key role in regulating the embryo implantation of sows. This study aimed to generate transgenic pigs using Hoxa10 via somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT). We established seven Hoxa10-transgenic cell lines, and two of the cell lines were selected as nuclear donors for the transfer. A total of 1 270 cloned embryos were generated and transferred to five surrogate mothers(Landrace×Yorkshire). Eight cloned male piglets were produced including one with cryptorchidism. Six transgenic piglets grew up healthy and produced 56 offspring. Finally, we obtained six transgenic male pigs and 26 transgenic positive offspring that can be used to further study the regulatory mechanism of Hoxa10 on the reproductive performance of pigs.

Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Embryonic Cell Nuclear Transfer in Rabbits

Factors affecting the efficiency of nuclear transfer (NT) in rabbits were examined in the present study. When 100 V mm-1 of pulse strength and 15 μs of pulse duration were employed, 3 and 4 electronic pulses resulted in significantly more cytoplasts fused with donor cells compared with 2 electronic pulses (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in the cleavage rate of reconstructed embryos among the three groups (P > 0.05). When the duration and number of electronic pulse were fixed at 15 μs and 3 times, increase of pulse intensity from 100 V mm-1 to 150 V mm-1 and 200 V mm-1 resulted in a significantly decrease in the cleavage rate of reconstructed embryos (P <0 .05), although the fusion rate did not significantly differ among the three groups (P > 0.05). Significantly more reconstructed embryos cleaved and developed to blastocysts when they were derived from donor embryos at the 8-16-cell stage, in comparison with the reconstructed embryos derived from donor embryos at the compact morula stage (P < 0.05), although the fusion rate was similar (P > 0.05). Activation of cytoplasts prior to fusion increased the cleavage rate (P < 0.05) and blastocyst development (P < 0.05) of reconstructed embryos, but decreased the fusion rate (P < 0.05) compared with cytoplasts activated post fusion. More reconstructed embryos developed to blastocysts when they were cultured in TCM + 3% OCS at the first 48 h and then cultured in TCM199 + 10% FCS, in comparison with the reconstructed embryos cultured in either TCM199 + 10% FCS or TCM199 + 3% OCS (P < 0.05). When 22 NT embryos were transferred into the oviducts of one recipient rabbit, one recipient rabbit delivered a female rabbit at 34 days of gestation. In conclusion, either electrofusion parameter or developmental stage of donor embryos have a significant effect on the efficiency of NT, NT embryos require different concentration of serum at their different development stages.

Serial Nuclear Transfer of Goat-Rabbit Interspecies Reconstructed Embryos

The experiments of serial nuclear transfer were conducted between Boer goat and rabbit. The enucleated oocytes of rabbit were used as recipients while the blastomeres of goat morula was used as nuclear donor. The reconstructed embryos developing to morula were used as donor for serial cloning. As a result, two generations of reconstructed embryos were obtained, including 58 first generation reconstructed embryos and 14 second generation reconstructed embryos. The fusion rates were 79.5 and 70%, respectively. and there was no significant difference between them (P >0.05). The cleavage rates were 75.9 and 28.6% respectively with significant difference (P<0.01). No blastocyst was obtained from the second generation reconstructed embryos while 13.8% of first generation reconstructed embryos developed to blastocyst.

Experimental cloning of embryos through human-rabbit inter-species nuclear transfer

Therapeutic cloning,which is based on human somatic cell nuclear transfer,is one of our major research objectives.Though inter-species nuclear transfer has been introduced to construct human somatic cell cloned embryos,the effects of type,passage,and preparation method of donor cells on embryo development remain unclear.In our experiment,cloned embryos were reconstructed with different passage and preparation methods of ossocartilaginous cell,skin fibroblast,and cumulus cells.The cumulus cell embryos showed significantly higher development rates than the other two(P<0.05).The development rate of embryos reconstruct-ed with skin fibroblasts of different passage number and somatic cells of different chilling durations showed no significant difference.Also,fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)was conducted to detect nuclear derivation of the embryos.The result showed that the nuclei of the inter-species cloned embryo cells came from human.We conclude that(1)cloned embryos can be constructed through human-rabbit interspecies nuclear transfer;(2)different kinds of somatic cells result in different efficiency of nuclear transfer,while in vitro passage of the donor does not influence embryo development;(3)refrigeration is a convenient and efficient donor cell preparation method.Finally,it is feasible to detect DNA genotype through FISH.

Cloning efficiency following ES cell nuclear transfer is influenced by the methylation state of the donor nucleus altered by mutation of DNA methyltransferase 3a and 3b

The epigenetic state of donor cells plays a vital role in the nuclear reprogramming and chromatin remodel-ing of cloned embryos.In this study we investigated the effect of DNA methylation state of donor cells on the development of mouse embryos reconstructed with embryonic stem(ES)cell nuclei.Our results confirmed that deletion of the DNA methyltransferase 3a(Dnmt3a)and DNA methyltransferase 3b(Dnmt3b)distinctly decreases the level of DNA methylation in ES cells.In contrast to wild type ES cells(J1),Dnmt3a–/–3b–/–(DKO)and Dnmt3b–/–(3bKO)donor cells significantly elevated the percentage of embryonic stem cell nuclear transfer(ECNT)morula,blastocysts and postimplantation embryos(P<0.05).However,the efficiency of establish-ment of NT-ES cell lines derived from DKO reconstructed blastocysts was not improved,and the expression pattern of OCT4 and CDX2 in cloned blastocysts and postim-plantation embryos was not altered either.Our results suggest that the DNA methylation state of the donor nucleus is an important factor in regulation of the donor nuclear reprogramming.

Efficient production of omega-3 fatty acid desaturase (sFat-1)-transgenic pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer

Omega-3(ω-3) fatty acid desaturase transgenic pigs may improve carcass fatty acid composition. The use of transgenic pigs is also an excellent large animal model for studying the role of ω-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease and cancer. Transgenic pigs carrying synthesized fatty acid desaturase-1 gene (sFat-1) from Caenorhabditis briggsae by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) were produced for the first time in China. Porcine fetal fibroblast cells were transfected with a sFat-1 expression cassette by the liposome-mediated method. Transgenic embryos were reconstructed by nuclear transfer of positive cells into enucleated in vitro matured oocytes. A total of 1889 reconstructed embryos were transferred into 10 naturally cycling gilts. Nine early pregnancies were established, 7 of which went to term. Twenty-one piglets were born. The cloning efficiency was 1.1% (born piglets/transferred embryos). The integration of the sFat-1 gene was confirmed in 15 live cloned piglets by PCR and Southern blot except for 2 piglets. Expression of the sFat-1 gene in 12 of 13 piglets was detected with RT-PCR. The data demonstrates that an efficient system for sFat-1 transgenic cloned pigs was developed, which led to the successful production of piglets expressing the sFat-1 gene.

Production of transgenic blastocyst by nuclear transfer from different types of somatic cells in cattle

The present study examined the effects of genetic manipulation to the donor cell and different types of transgenic donor cells on developmental potential of bovine nuclear trans-fer (NT) embryos. Four types of bovine somatic cells, including granulosa cells, fetal fibroblasts, fetal oviduct epithelial cells and fetal ovary epithelial cells, were transfected with a plasmid (pCE-EGFP-Ires-Neo-dNdB) containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and neomycin-resistant (Neor) genes by electroporation. After 14 days selection with 800 mg/mL G418, transgenic cell lines from each type of somatic cells were obtained. Nontransgenic granulosa cells and all 4 types of transgenic somatic cells were used as nuclear donor to produce transgenic embryos by NT. There was no significant difference in development rates to the blas-tocyst stage for NT embryos from transgenic and nontransgenic granulosa cells (44.6% and 42.8%, respectively), and transfer of NT embryos derived from transgenic and nontransgenic granulosa cells to recipients resulted in similar pregnancy rates on day 90 (19% and 25%, re-spectively). The development rates to the blastocyst stage of NT embryos were significantly dif-ferent among different types of transgenic donor cells (P<0.05). Blastocyst rates from fetal ovi-duct epithelial cell and granulosa cell (49.1% and 44.6%, respectively) were higher than those from fetal fibroblast (32.7%) and fetal ovary epithelial cell (22.5%). These results suggest that (i) genetic manipulation to donor cells has no negative effect on in vitro and early in vivo develop-mental competence of bovine NT embryos and (ii) granulosa and fetal oviduct epithelial cells can be used to produce transgenic bovine NT embryos more efficiently. In addition, GFP can be used to select transgenic NT embryos as a non-invasive selective marker.

Production of transgenic calves by somatic cell nuclear transfer

Bovine fetal oviduct epithelial cells were transfected with constructed double marker selective vector(pCE-EGFP-IRES-Neo-dNdB) containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and neomycin-resistant(Neo^r) genes by electroporation, and a transgenic cell line was obtained. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) was cartied out using the transgenic cells as nuclei donor. A total of 424 SCNT embryos were reconstructed and 208 (49.1%) of them developed to blastocyst stage. 17 blastocysts on D 7 after reconstruction were transferred to 17 surrogate calves,and 5 (29.4%) recipients were found to be pregnant. Three of them maintained to term and delivered three cloned calves.PCR and Southern blot analysis confirmed the integration of transgene in all of the three cloned calves. In addition, expression of EGFP was detected in biopsy isolated from the transgenic cloned calves and fibroblasts derived from the biopsy. Our results suggest that transgenic calves could be efficiently produced by SCNT using transgenic cells as nuclei donor. Furthermore, all cloned animals could be ensured to be transgenic by efficiently pre-screening transgenic cells and SCNT embryos using the constructed double marker selective vector.

Cloned pigs derived from somatic cell nuclear transferembryos cultured in vitro atlow oxygen tension

Pig cloning has great potential to human xenotransplantation. The present study was designed to establish a more efficient system for producing cloned pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Our approach was as follows: SCNT embryos were reconstructed by using fetal fibroblasts of Chinese miniature pig as donors and in vitro matured oocytes of prepubertal gilts as recipients. Reconstructed em- bryos were induced by electrical fusion/activation and cultured in BSA-containing North Carolina State University 23 medium (NCSU-23) or Porcine Zygote Medium (PZM-3) at the gas condition of 5% CO2, 7% O2, 88% N2. A total of 230 cloned embryos were transferred to three surrogate sows, producing three piglets. One of them is apparently healthy. The clonal provenance of the piglet was indicated by its coat color and confirmed by DNA microsatellite analysis. These results indicate that the use of in vitro matured oocytes from prepubertal gilts as recipient, combined with cloned embryos cultured at low oxygen tension is an effective way to produce cloned pigs.

Effects of different nuclear transfer and activation methods on the development of mouse somatic cell cloned embryos

A group of adult somatic cell cloned mice were obtained by using cumulus cells as nuclei donor cells. To study the effect of different nuclear transfer (NT) and activation methods on the development of mouse cloned embryos, embryos were reconstructed using two traditional NT methods (electrofusion and direct injection) and four activation treatments (electric pulse, ethanol, SrCl2 and electric pulse combined with SrCl2). The data showed that the efficiency of reconstruction using the direct injection method is significantly higher (90.7%) than that of the electrofusion method (49.7%). Parthenogenetic embryos can develop to blastocyst stage with three activation conditions, including ethanol, electric pulse and SrCl2; however, the rates of development to blastocyst after ethanol and electric pulse acti-vation (52.4%, 54.2%) are significantly lower than after SrCl2 activation (76.9%). Treatment of embryos for 6 h with 10 mmol/L SrCl2 was found to be the best condition for activation of parthenogenetic as well as reconstructed embryos. By contrast, reconstructed embryos failed to develop to blastocyst stage after being activated by ethanol. The use of either injection or electrofusion for embryo reconstruction affected the pre-implantation development. However, after transfer in pseudopregnant mice, cloned mice were obtained from both methods.

Epigenetic reprogramming in mammalian nuclear transfer

Somatic cloning has been succeeded in some species, but the cloning efficiency is very low, which limits the application of the technique in many areas of research and biotechnology. The cloning of mammals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) requires epigenetic reprogramming of the differentiated state of donor cell to a totipotent, embry-onic ground state. Accumulating evidence indicates that in-complete or inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming of do-nor nuclei is likely to be the primary cause of failures in nu-clear transfer. This review summarizes the roles of various epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, te-lomere maintenance and expressions of development-related genes on somatic nuclear transfer.

DNA methylation status of H19 and Xist genes in lungs of somatic cell nuclear transfer bovines

In somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technologies,the donor cell’s nuclei need to be epigenetically reprogrammed for embryonic development. The incomplete reprogramming of donor cell nuclei has been implicated as a primary reason for the low efficiency of SCNT. DNA methylation is a major epige-netic modification of the genome that regulates crucial aspects of genome function,including estab-lishment of genomic imprinting. In order to make sure whether the DNA methylation reprogramming is efficient in SCNT animals,we analyzed the DNA methylation status of two imprinting genes,H19 and Xist,in lungs of deceased SCNT bovines that died within 48 h of birth using bisulfite sequencing analysis. Our findings demonstrated that cloned bovines showed significantly lower DNA methylation of H19 than controls (P<0.05),and three tested CpGs sites (1,2,3) exhibited unmethylation in one cloned bovine (9C3); however,Xist showed similar DNA methylation levels between clones and con-trols,and both showed hypermethylation (96.11% and 86.67%).

Nuclear transfer using nonquiescent adult fibroblasts from a bovine ear

The natural reproduction of mammal is sexual reproduction, which needs fertilization involving sperm and oocyte. Nuclear transfer provided an asexual reproduction method for mammal. Donor cells used in previous experiments of nuclear transfer were mostly from undif-ferentiated or non-terminally differentiated cells, such as embryonic or fetal cells. However, since Wilmut et al. obtained a viable lamb by transfer of an adult sheep somatic cell into

Cloned calves produced by nuclear transfer from cultured cumulus cell

Short-term cultured cumulus cell lines (1-5BCC) derived from 5 individual cows were used in nuclear transfer (NT) and 1188 enucleated bovine oocytes matured in vitro were used as nuclear recipients. A total of 931 (78.4%) cloned embryos were reconstructed, of which 763 (82%) cleaved, 627 (67.3%) developed to 8-cell stage, and 275 (29.5%) reached blastocyst stage. The average cell number of blastocysts was 124±24.5 (n=20). In this study, the effects of donor cell sources, serum starvation of donor cells, time interval from fusion to activation (IFA) were also tested on cloning efficiency. These results showed that blastocyst rates of embryos reconstructed from 5 different individuals cells were significantly different among them (14.1%, 45.2%, 27.3%, 34.3%, vs 1.5%, P<0.05); that serum starvation of donor cells had no effect on blastocyst development rate of NT embryos (47.1% vs 44.4%, P>0.05); and that blastocyst rate (20.3%) of the group with fusion/activation interval of 2-3 h, was significantly lower than that of the 3-6 h groups (31.0%), while not significantly different among 3-4 h (P < 0.05), 4-5 h, and 5-6 h groups (P ≥ 0.05). Sixty-three thawed NT blastocysts were transferred to 31 recipient cows, of which 4 pregnancies were established and two cloned calves were given birth. These results indicate that serum starvation of cumulus cells is not a key factor for successful bovine cloning, while IFA treatment and sources of donor cells have effects on cloning efficiency.