First Cloned Equine Pregnancy in Australia Produced by Inhibition of H3K9 Methyltransferases in Somatic Donor Cells

Several studies have shown that cellular reprogramming during somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) involves changes in gene expression that are associated with epigenetic modifications, such as histone methylation/acetylation. Particularly, the histone 3 trimethylation of lysine 9 (H3K9me3), associated with gene silencing, has recently been shown to be one of the main epigenetic barriers influencing SCNT efficiency in mice (Matoba et al. Cell. 2014; 4:884-895). We hypothesized that the use of somatic cells with diminished H3K9 methyltransferase activity would significantly improve the efficiency of SCNT in horses.
Source: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research