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Incomplete methylation reprogramming in SCNT embryos

Nature Genetics volume 44, pages 965–966 (2012)Cite this article

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The cloning of Dolly the sheep was a remarkable demonstration of the oocyte's ability to reprogram a specialized nucleus. However, embryos derived from such somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) very rarely result in live births—a fate that may be linked to observed epigenetic defects. A new genome-wide study shows that epigenetic reprogramming in SCNT embryos does not fully recapitulate the natural DNA demethylation events occurring at fertilization, resulting in aberrant methylation at some promoters and repetitive elements that may contribute to developmental failure.

Fertilization of a mouse oocyte triggers a complex set of events to confer totipotency on the new embryo. Conspicuous among these is a comprehensive overhaul of the epigenome—the collective modification of DNA and histones—that includes DNA methylation, an important regulator of transcription1. Remarkably, the reprogramming power of the oocyte can be harnessed to reset the specialization of a somatic nucleus and give rise to a complete cloned embryo, although fewer than 2% of these usually develop to term2. This abortive development may be the result of incomplete remodeling of the somatic epigenome. On page 978 of this issue, Alexander Meissner and colleagues present the first genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation reprogramming induced by SCNT3.

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Figure 1: Methylation dynamics in SCNT and fertilization.

Katie Vicari

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Julian R. Peat and Wolf Reik are in the Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.,

    Julian R Peat & Wolf Reik

  2. Wolf Reik is also at the Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,

    Wolf Reik

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  1. Julian R Peat
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  2. Wolf Reik
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Correspondence to Wolf Reik.

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Peat, J., Reik, W. Incomplete methylation reprogramming in SCNT embryos. Nat Genet 44, 965–966 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.2393

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