title: Resurrection of an alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-targeted miniature pig by recloning using postmortem ear skin fibroblasts.
abstract: Animals with a targeted disruption of genes can be produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). However, difficulties in clonal selection of somatic cells with a targeted mutation often result in heterogeneous nuclear donor cells, including gene-targeted and non-targeted cells, and impose a risk of producing undesired wildtype cloned animals after SCNT. In addition, the efficiency of cloning by SCNT has remained extremely low. Most cloned embryos die in utero, and the few that develop to term show a high incidence of postnatal death and abnormalities. In the present study, resurrection of an alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (αGT) gene-targeted miniature pig by recloning using postmortem ear skin fibroblasts was attempted. Three cloned piglets were produced from the first round of SCNT, including one stillborn and two who died immediately after birth due to respiratory distress syndrome and cardiac dysfunction. Among the three piglets, two were confirmed to be αGT gene-targeted. Fibroblasts derived from postmortem ear skin biopsies were used as nuclear donor cells for the second round of SCNT, and a piglet was produced. As expected, PCR and Southern analyses confirmed that the piglet produced from recloning was αGT gene-targeted. Currently, the piglet is fourteen months of age, and no overt health problems have been observed. Results from the present study demonstrate that loss of an invaluable animal, such as a gene-targeted miniature pig, may be rescued by recloning, with assurance of the desired genetic modification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dankook University School of Medicine, Cheonan 330-714, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Young June
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Minjeong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bo Hyung
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Man-Jong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yong-Kook
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jeong Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Kwang
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Hoi
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Whan-Gook
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Nho
authors.forename: Sung Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jae-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Jin-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo-Bong
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hosup
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015139:Blotting, Southern / Q000662:veterinary; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004423:Ear; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000662:veterinary; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
chemical_list: D005700:Galactosyltransferases