Nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells can be induced by oocyte factors. Despite numerous attempts, the factors responsible for successful nuclear reprogramming remain elusive. In the present study, we found that porcine oocytes with the first polar body collected at 42 h of in vitro maturation had a stronger ability to support early development of cloned embryos than porcine oocytes with the f...

Most plant species rely on seeds for their dispersal and survival under unfavorable environmental conditions. Seeds are characterized by their low moisture content and significantly reduced metabolic activities. During the maturation phase, seeds accumulate storage reserves and become desiccation-tolerant and dormant. Growth is resumed after release of dormancy and the occurrence of favorable e...

Sexual reproduction depends upon meiosis for the generation of haploid gamete nuclei, which unite after fertilization to form the diploid zygote. The oocytes of most animal species arrest during meiotic prophase, and complete meiosis in response to intercellular signaling in a process called meiotic maturation. Oocyte meiotic maturation is defined by the transition between diakinesis and metaph...

Description 540 and 673 amino acids, 62 and 74 kDa (PLZFa and b respectively); Krüppel-like zinc finger protein; N-term BTB/POZ domain (protein-protein interaction motif) and 9 zinc finger domains in C-term. Expression Highly specific for hematopoietic cells; during mouse development, PLZF is expressed in embryonic tissus, giving rise to hematopoietic progenitors; in man, PLZF is expressed in C...