Nuclear remodeling and reprogramming in transgenic pig production

The manufacture of pigs with modifications to specific chromosomal regions requires that the modification first be made in somatic cells. The modified cells can then be used as donors for nuclear transfer (NT) in an attempt to clone that cell into a newborn animal. Unfortunately the procedures are inefficient and sometimes lead to animals that are abnormal. The cause of these abnormalities is likely established during the first cell cycle after the NT. Either the donor cell was abnormal or the oocyte cytoplasm was unable to adequately remodel the donor nucleus such that it was structured similar to the pronucleus of a zygote. A better understanding of chromatin remodeling and subsequent developmental gene expression will provide clues as to how procedures can be modified to generate fertile animals more efficiently.