Cellular reprogramming can be achieved by ectopically expressing transcription factors that directly convert one differentiated cell type into another, bypassing embryonic states. A number of different cell types have been generated by such 'direct lineage reprogramming' methods, but their practical utility has been limited because, in most protocols, the resulting populations are often partial...

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotency using different methods. In comparison with pluripotent cells obtained through somatic nuclear transfer, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) exhibit a higher number of epigenetic errors. Furthermore, most of these abnormalities have been described to be intrinsic to the iPSC technology. Here, we investigate whether the aberrant epigenetic pat...

Background: The most important factor affecting the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is the initial quality of the oocyte. Since the abattoir-derived oocytes are heterogeneous in quality, selection of cohort fully grown/competent oocytes is necessary for proper development of SCNT embryos. Materials and Methods: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) is actively expressed i...

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was reported to be cleaved into extracellular domain of EpCAM (EpEX) and intracellular domain of EpCAM (EpICD). We previously reported that EpCAM serves as a potent stem cell marker which is highly and selectively expressed by undifferentiated rather than differentiated hESC. However, the functional role of EpCAM remains elusive. Here, we found that EpE...

During reprogramming, there is exchange of histone H1c and the oocyte-specific linker histone, and H1c may play a critically important role in the reprogramming process of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the H1c gene in SCNT reprogramming in Chinese swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using RNA interference (RNAi). Chinese swamp buff...

Incomplete epigenetic reprogramming of the genome of donor cells causes poor early and full-term developmental efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Previous research indicate that inhibition of the histone H3 K79 methyltransferase DOT1L, using a selective pharmacological inhibitor EPZ004777 (EPZ), significantly improved reprogramming efficiency during the generation of mo...