T4 DNA-Induced Reconstruction of Artificial Nuclei in Living Mouse Oocytes.

Fertilization involves a specialized nuclear formation process distinct from that of somatic cells, and reconstitution methods are useful for understanding its underlying mechanisms. Recently, we successfully reconstructed a nuclear-like structure, termed an "artificial nucleus," in living mouse oocytes by microinjecting solutions of T4 DNA (~166 kbp). This achievement allowed us to identify the physicochemical properties necessary for nuclear formation. In this paper, we describe a method for constructing artificial nuclei using T4 DNA solutions, which will contribute to future studies on the mechanisms of nuclear formation.