Nucleus transfer in mammals: How the oocyte cytoplasm modifies the transferred nucleus

Successful development of clones depends on the reprogramming of transferred nuclei in enucleated oocytes. Thus far, oocytes are the only cells that can convert nuclei, which are already differentiated, into undifferentiated stages resembling pronuclei in freshly fertilized zygotes and that can then complete development of the reconstructed embryos. However, we still don't know exactly how the enucleated oocyte (cytoplast) secures this reprogramming. Oocytes exhibit a number of cytoplasmic activities that may be involved reprogramming. We discuss how these activities may be involved in reprogramming of transferred nuclei. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc.