Location: Plant Genetics Research
Project Number: 5070-31320-001-004-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 1, 2022
End Date: Dec 31, 2024
Objective:
Our long-term goal is to understand the mechanism underlying the control of epigenetic modifications during embryo development to enhance somatic reprogramming. We propose three objectives to test the hypothesis.
Objective #1: Elucidate the role of an isoform of a translocation protein (TET3L) in regulating epigenetic marks and pluripotency genes during embryogenesis in pigs.
Objective #2: Investigate the unique reprogramming ability of TET3L within the TET family genes.
Objective #3: Construct a somatic reprogramming network initiated by the TET3L, an oocytespecific reprogramming factor.
Approach:
By using siRNA technology, the level of TET3L will be disrupted prior to the fertilization process. Then, the impact of the targeted disruption on epigenetic reprogramming, establishing pluripotency of blastocysts, and cellular specification at peri-implantation stage will be evaluated. Although all three TET family genes (1-3) have a similar structure, their expression profile is stage and cell type-specific.
