Construction of Cashmere Goat Embryos Carrying K2.9 Gene by Transgenic Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Technology

The study aimed to enhance wool quality by altering its protein composition through transgenic somatic cell nuclear transfer technology, producing cashmere goat embryos carrying the K2.9 gene. Researchers transfected cashmere goat fetal fibroblast cells with a hair follicle-specific expression vector containing the K2.9 gene. The study found that using Iono+6-D for activation significantly increased the cleavage rate of adult cashmere goat parthenogenetic embryos compared to other methods. The development of nuclear transfer embryos from transgenic fibroblast cells was not affected, although the fusion rate improved with certain donor cells. The manipulated blastocysts were confirmed to carry the K2.9 gene, demonstrating the potential of this technology to produce transgenic cashmere goats.