5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Dynamics Reveals Coordinated Reprogramming of Parental Genomes and X Chromosome Dosage Balance in Mouse SCNT Embryos.

ABSTRACT: Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos exhibit widespread epigenetic defects, particularly aberrant DNA methylation. DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is involved in methylation reprogramming during early embryonic development, yet its role in SCNT embryos remains largely unknown. Here, the genome-wide 5hmC landscapes in mouse SCNT embryos are systematically profiled with parental allele specificity. It is revealed that both maternal and paternal genomes of donor somatic cells acquire a transient, sperm-like but attenuated and allele symmetric distribution of 5hmC at the 2-cell stage, distinct from the parental asymmetric pattern observed in naturally fertilized eggs. This is characterized by insufficient DNA hydroxymethylation of the X chromosome in female SCNT embryos, as well as

SUBMITTER: Xiang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12866825 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature