Methods for cloning non-human mammals using reprogrammed donor chromatin or donor cells

Patent Number: 7,253,334

This patent covers the use of epigenetically reprogramming a donor nucleus prior to cloning. Essentially Collas uses methods he previously described as able to induce dedifferentiation of adult cells. In previous papers, Collas demonstrated that tranfering cytoplasm from a T cell into a fibroblast (through temporarily permeabilizing the fibroblast), will allow the fibroblast to express T cell specific proteins such as CD25 (Hakelien et al. Reprogramming fibroblasts to express T-cell functions using cell extracts. Nat Biotechnol. 2002 May;20(5):460-6).

In this specific patent, donor cells (fibroblast, epithelial cell, neural cell, epidermal cell, keratinocyte, hematopoietic cell, melanocyte, chondrocyte, B-lymphocyte, T-lymphocyte, erythrocyte, macrophage, monocyte, muscle cell, embryonic stem cell, embryonic germ cell, fetal cell, placental cell, or embryonic cell) are permeabilized and cytoplasm of more "undifferentiated" cells are transferred in order to "reprogram" the donor cell. This "reprogramming" makes the donor cell a better candidate for cloning.

View this patent on the USPTO website.