Shlomo Seidman, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Published online: April 2001
DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0002672
Transient transgenic gene expression in microinjected embryos of Xenopus laevis offers a relatively simple, yet versatile and economical experimental system for the molecular analysis of vertebrate embryogenesis.
Keywords: Xenopus laevis; microinjection; embryos; developmental biology; heterologous gene expression
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Figure 1. Rapid development of Xenopus laevis. In vitro fertilized Xenopus eggs can be microinjected with RNA or DNA to promote ectopic gene expression in developing embryos. Within 48 hours, seminal events such as gastrulation, neurulation and the establishment of a rudimentary neuromuscular system take place, allowing scientists to dissect the role(s) of individual proteins in a well-characterized model of early vertebrate development. Using microinjected Xenopus embryos, many key molecules involved in mesoderm induction, neurogenesis and the establishment of axial polarity have been identified. Modified from Seidman et al. (1994) Journal of Neurochemistry 62: 1670.
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| Further Reading | |
| Dumont JN (1972) Oogenesis in Xenopus laevis (Daudin) 1. Stages of oocyte development in laboratory maintained animals. Journal of Morphology 136: 153–180. | |
| book Hausen P and Riebessell M (1991) The Early Development of Xenopus laevis: An Atlas of the Histology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. | |
| book Kay BK and Peng HJ (eds) (1991) Xenopus laevis: Practical Uses in Cell and Molecular Biology, Methods in Cell Biology, vol. 36. San Diego: Academic Press. | |
| book Nieuwkoop PD and Faber J (1994) Normal Table of Xenopus (Daudin). New York: Garland. | |
| book Seidman S and Soreq H (1997) "Transgenic Xenopus: microinjection methods and developmental neurobiology". In: Boulton AA and Baker GB (eds) Neuromethods, vol. 28. New Jersey: Humana Press. | |
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