Inheritable histone H4 acetylation of somatic chromatins in cloned embryos.
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.
Wee
Gabbine
G
Laboratory of Development and Differentiation, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 52 Eoeun-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-806, Korea.
Koo
Deog-Bon
DB
Song
Bong-Seok
BS
Kim
Ji-Su
JS
Kang
Man-Jong
MJ
Moon
Seung-Ju
SJ
Kang
Yong-Kook
YK
Lee
Kyung-Kwang
KK
Han
Yong-Mahn
YM
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
D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; C012589:trichostatin A; D008239:Lysine