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Updated: May 28, 2026
14:17
Nuclear Transfer into Mouse Oocytes
Published on: November 30, 2006
Reprogramming within hours following nuclear transfer into mouse but not human zygotes.
Dieter Egli1, Alice E Chen, Genevieve Saphier
1Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Nature Communications
|October 6, 2011
Summary
Human zygotes can be obtained for reprogramming studies, but somatic cell genome transfer leads to developmental arrest. Mouse zygotes successfully reprogram somatic cells, highlighting a potential barrier in human nuclear transfer and genome activation.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Stem cell research
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Somatic cell reprogramming to pluripotency is crucial for generating patient-specific stem cells.
- Human zygotes offer potential for creating patient-derived pluripotent stem cells.
- Limited availability of human eggs for research due to logistical, legal, and social factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of human zygotes for somatic cell reprogramming.
- To identify barriers to successful nuclear transfer and genome activation in human zygotes.
Main Methods:
- Obtaining a significant number of normal fertilized human eggs (zygotes) for research.
- Replacing the zygotic genome with that of a somatic cell.
- Comparing reprogramming efficiency and developmental progression with mouse zygotes.
Main Results:
- Human zygotes supported normal development through cleavage stages after somatic genome transfer.
- Development arrested before the morula stage in human zygotes.
- Failure to activate the transferred somatic genome transcription was observed in human zygotes.
- Mouse zygotes successfully reprogrammed somatic cell genomes to pluripotency within hours.
Conclusions:
- A significant barrier to successful human nuclear transfer exists, potentially related to genome activation.
- Mouse zygotes demonstrate efficient reprogramming, contrasting with human zygote limitations.
- Future research should focus on understanding the requirements for genome activation in human nuclear transfer.
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