The xenopus cell cycle: An overview

Anna Philpott, P. Renee Yew

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oocytes, eggs and embryos from the frog Xenopus laevis have been an important model system for studying cell-cycle regulation for several decades. First, progression through meiosis in the oocyte has been extensively investigated. Oocyte maturation has been shown to involve complex networks of signal transduction pathways, culminating in the cyclic activation and inactivation of Maturation Promoting Factor (MPF), composed of cyclin B and cdc2. After fertilisation, the early embryo undergoes rapid simplified cell cycles which have been recapitulated in cell-free extracts of Xenopus eggs. Experimental manipulation of these extracts has given a wealth of biochemical information about the cell cycle, particularly concerning DNA replication and mitosis. Finally, cells of older embryos adopt a more somatic-type cell cycle and have been used to study the balance between cell cycle and differentiation during development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9-19
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular Biotechnology
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2008

Keywords

  • Cell cycle
  • DNA replication
  • Meiosis
  • Mitosis
  • Oocyte
  • Xenopus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology

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