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Projekt Druckansicht

Induction of pluripotency by protein gain of function in cloned mouse embryos

Fachliche Zuordnung Entwicklungsbiologie
Zellbiologie
Förderung Förderung von 2008 bis 2015
Projektkennung Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 66209674
 
Erstellungsjahr 2014

Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse

Using SCNT, confocal microscopy, transcriptome analysis by microarray, and protein analysis by LC-MS/MS as core technologies, the Boiani group studied the natural reprogramming ability of the MII mouse oocyte. This was relevant not only to the topic of SPP 1356, but also to developmental totipotency and to oocyte biology in general. Results obtained in the SPP 1356 can be summarized in four points: 1) The natural factors that are in charge of oocyte-mediated reprogrammming, called collectively the ‘reprogrammome,’ are, in part, distinct from the reprogramming factors known from other reprogramming systems e.g. Oct4; 2) the reprogramming factors of one ooplasm are sufficient for more than one somatic nucleus; 3) the cell cycle and, in particular, DNA replication is an essential co-factor in oocyte-mediated reprogramming; and 4) reprogramming unfolds into at least the third cell cycle after SCNT and requires culture conditions as a permissive parameter. To our surprise, the key transcription factor Oct4 only allowed for marginal improvement of reprogramming rates after artificial increase of Oct4 mRNA in oocytes prior to SCNT. Given these results, where to go from here? Ongoing research by the Boiani group aims to investigate the composition of the mouse ooplasm deeper in order to pinpoint the reprogramming factors, even though these factors may not be distinct from those that process the sperm nucleus and that direct development after fertilization. For this reason, the study of cloned embryos is meaningful also for the understanding of normal development. A new project called “A forward genetics approach to the ‘reprogrammome’ is in progress to identify the protein factors whose abundance may correlate with the variable reprogramming phenotypes of oocytes from different inbred strains of mice (C3H/HeN, C57Bl/6J, DBA/2J, and 129/Sv). The oocytes and embryos of inbred strains offer the advantage of a defined genetic composition, which undoubtedly will simplify the interpretation of experimental results.

Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)

 
 

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