Genome-wide analysis of gene expression during Xenopus tropicalis tadpole tail regeneration

BMC Developmental Biology, 2011 · DOI: 10.1186/1471-213X-11-70 · Published: November 15, 2011

Regenerative Medicine Genetics Bioinformatics

Simple Explanation

Researchers investigated tail regeneration in Xenopus tropicalis tadpoles, a type of frog, to understand how vertebrates regrow body parts. This could potentially lead to new treatments for injuries in humans that currently result in scarring and loss of function. The study found that Xenopus tropicalis tadpoles can regenerate their tails, including complex tissues like the spinal cord and muscles. Gene expression was analyzed during regeneration, revealing over 1,000 genes that are significantly altered during this process. Further analysis identified genes involved in the inflammatory response, metabolism, and energy regulation as key players in tail regeneration. Specifically, genes related to the production of NADP/H were found to be upregulated during the early stages of regeneration, suggesting their importance in the process.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Xenopus tropicalis tadpoles (stages 49-51)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Xenopus tropicalis tadpoles can regenerate their tails, including the spinal cord, muscle, and major blood vessels, similar to Xenopus laevis.
2
Over 1,000 genes are significantly modulated during tail regeneration, as identified through genome-wide expression analysis.
3
Genes involved in the inflammatory response, intracellular metabolism, and energy regulation are dynamically regulated during tail regeneration.

Research Summary

The study characterizes tail regeneration in Xenopus tropicalis tadpoles and creates a transcriptomic resource to identify genes and processes modulated during vertebrate tissue repair and regeneration. Analysis of regenerated vascular and neuronal tissue demonstrated that both the fin axons and blood vessels adopted a “parallel” morphology, suggesting potential guidance mechanisms between nerves and blood vessels. Meta-analysis of array data identified the modulation of genes regulating NADP/H generation, suggesting a role for NADPH-dependent metabolic processes during tail regeneration.

Practical Implications

Understanding Vertebrate Regeneration

The Xenopus tropicalis tadpole serves as a powerful vertebrate model for studying appendage regeneration, providing insights into the genetic mechanisms involved.

Identifying Therapeutic Targets

The identified genes and processes can be potential therapeutic targets for promoting healing and regeneration in humans.

Conserved Regeneration Mechanisms

The strong similarity in gene expression between Xenopus tropicalis and Xenopus laevis suggests conserved molecular mechanisms for tail regeneration in frogs.

Study Limitations

1
The study is based on duplicate arrays from pooled samples obtained at four different time points, which may not capture the full complexity of the regeneration process.
2
A more comprehensive microarray analysis would have required analysis of many more samples from individual animals during various stages of tail regeneration.
3
It was not possible to isolate RNA only once from each tadpole.

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