Mechanisms of nuclear reprogramming by eggs and oocytes: a deterministic process?

• Published in: Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology Vol. 12; no. 7; pp. 453 - 459
• Main Authors: Gurdon, J. B, Jullien, Jerome, Pasque, Vincent, Halley-Stott, Richard P, Miyamoto, Kei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 23.06.2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/136/2444; 631/136/532/2435; 631/337; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cancer Research; Cell Biology; Cell Dedifferentiation; Cell division; Cell Fusion; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cellular Reprogramming; Chromatin - genetics; Chromatin - metabolism; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Developmental Biology; DNA; Eggs; Embryos; Experiments; Female; Gene Expression; Histones - metabolism; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - metabolism; Life Sciences; Methylation; Nuclear Transfer Techniques; Oocytes - cytology; Oocytes - metabolism; opinion-2; Ovum - cytology; Ovum - metabolism; Proteins; Reptiles & amphibians; Stem Cells; Time Factors; Transcription factors; Transplants & implants; Xenopus laevis
• ISSN: 1471-0072; 1471-0080
• DOI: 10.1038/nrm3140

Differentiated cells can become pluripotent through reprogramming by nuclear transfer, cell fusion and induced pluripotent stem cell technology. The characteristics of reprogramming by nuclear transfer and cell fusion suggest that they occur in a deterministic, rather than a stochastic, manner. Differentiated cells can be experimentally reprogrammed back to pluripotency by nuclear transfer, cell fusion or induced pluripotent stem cell technology. Nuclear transfer and cell fusion can lead to efficient reprogramming of gene expression. The egg and oocyte reprogramming process includes the exchange of somatic proteins for oocyte proteins, the post-translational modification of histones and the demethylation of DNA. These events occur in an ordered manner and on a defined timescale, indicating that reprogramming by nuclear transfer and by cell fusion rely on deterministic processes.