title: Mechanisms of nuclear reprogramming by eggs and oocytes: a deterministic process?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, The Henry Wellcome Building of Cancer and Developmental Biology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jullien
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pasque
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Halley-Stott
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gurdon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054337:Cell Dedifferentiation; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones