title: Inheritable histone H4 acetylation of somatic chromatins in cloned embryos.
abstract: A viable cloned animal indicates that epigenetic status of the differentiated cell nucleus is reprogrammed to an embryonic totipotent state. However, molecular events regarding epigenetic reprogramming of the somatic chromatin are poorly understood. Here we provide new insight that somatic chromatins are refractory to reprogramming of histone acetylation during early development. A low level of acetylated histone H4-lysine 5 (AcH4K5) of the somatic chromatin was sustained at the pronuclear stage. Unlike in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos, the AcH4K5 level remarkably reduced at the 8-cell stage in cloned bovine embryos. The AcH4K5 status of somatic chromatins transmitted to cloned and even recloned embryos. Differences of AcH4K5 signal intensity were more distinguishable in the metaphase chromosomes between IVF and cloned embryos. Two imprinted genes, Ndn and Xist, were aberrantly expressed in cloned embryos as compared with IVF embryos, which is partly associated with the AcH4K5 signal intensity. Our findings suggest that abnormal epigenetic reprogramming in cloned embryos may be because of a memory mechanism, the epigenetic status itself of somatic chromatins.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Development and Differentiation, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 52 Eoeun-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-806, Korea.
authors.forename: Gabbine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Deog-Bon
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Bong-Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ji-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Man-Jong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Seung-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Yong-Kook
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kyung-Kwang
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Mahn
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D019976:Cloning, Organism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; C012589:trichostatin A; D008239:Lysine