Mammalian fertilization begins with the fusion of two specialized gametes, followed by major
epigenetic remodeling leading to the formation of a totipotent embryo. During the …

Successful cloning of monkeys, the first non-human primate species, by somatic cell nuclear
transfer (SCNT) attracted worldwide attention earlier this year. Remarkably, it has taken …

Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1/2) maintain transcriptional silencing of
developmental genes largely by catalyzing the formation of mono-ubiquitinated histone H2A …

Parental epigenomes are established during gametogenesis. While they are largely reset
after fertilization, broad domains of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated …

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most abundant internal mRNA modifications, and it
affects multiple biological processes related to eukaryotic mRNA. The majority of m6A sites …

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) can be used to reprogram differentiated somatic cells
to a totipotent state but has poor efficiency in supporting full-term development. H3K9me3 is …

Differentiated somatic cells can be reprogrammed to totipotent embryos through somatic cell
nuclear transfer (SCNT) with low efficiency. The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A …

Faithful maintenance of genomic imprinting is essential for mammalian development. While
germline DNA methylation–dependent (canonical) imprinting is relatively stable during …

Genomic imprinting is essential for mammalian development. Recent studies have revealed
that maternal histone H3 Lys27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) can mediate DNA methylation …

Dramatic nuclear reorganization occurs during early development to convert terminally
differentiated gametes to a totipotent zygote, which then gives rise to an embryo. Aberrant …