Xenopus Development

Content: Xenopus Development
 Copyright
 Contents
 Contributors
 Preface
 Section I Oocyte and Early Embryo
 1 Transcription in the Xenopus Oocyte Nucleus
 Introduction
 LBC structure: The standard model
 Chromomeres and loops
 Transcription on LBC loops
 Transcripts produced during oogenesis
 In situ hybridization of nascent transcripts on individual LBC loops
 Appendix
 Acknowledgments
 References
 2 RNA Localization during Oogenesis in Xenopus laevis
 Xenopus oocytes as a model system for exploring RNA localization
 Cis -elements and the role of short repeated motifs. Proteins, RNAs, and the endoplasmic reticulumMechanism(s) for RNA localization to the vegetal cortex
 Looking toward the future
 References
 3 From Oocyte to Fertilizable Egg: Regulated mRNA Translation and the Control of Maternal Gene Expression
 Mechanisms of mRNA translational control: Global versus selective targeting
 Sequestration of maternal mRNA contributes to control of gene expression during Xenopus oogenesis
 Future perspectives
 Acknowledgments
 References
 4 Polarity of Xenopus Oocytes and Early Embryos
 Oocyte polarity and embryonic axes. Development of A-V polarity during oogenesisVegetal hemisphere maternal factors
 Vegetal cortex
 Animal hemisphere maternal factors
 Asymmetry of inorganic maternal factors
 Maternal determination of planar and basolateral polarity and L-R asymmetry
 Conclusions
 References
 5 Germ-Cell Specification in Xenopus
 Background
 Formation of the Xenopus germline
 Molecular components of germ plasm
 Do chromatin modifications play a role in Xenopus PGC specification?
 Concluding remarks
 Acknowledgments
 References
 Section II Midblastula Transition, Gastrulation, and Neurulation. 6 The Xenopus Embryo as a Model System to Study Asymmetric Furrowing in Vertebrate Epithelial CellsIntroduction
 MELK is a cell cycle-regulated kinase involved in development and cancer
 MELK in Xenopus laevis embryo cytokinesis
 Asymmetric furrowing is a mode of cytokinesis conserved throughout evolution
 The Xenopus embryo as a model system to analyze asymmetric furrowing
 Conclusions
 Acknowledgments
 References
 7 Induction and Differentiation of the Xenopus Ciliated Embryonic Epidermis
 Introduction
 Nonneural ectoderm specification
 Ontogeny of the mucociliary epithelium. Perspectives and outstanding questionsConcluding remarks
 References
 8 Wnt Signaling during Early Xenopus Development
 Introduction
 Wnt "canonical" and "noncanonical" pathways: Complexity and uncertainties
 Major processes regulated by Wnts during early Xenopus development
 Wnt signaling at postgastrula stages
 References
 9 Neural Tube Closure in Xenopus
 Introduction
 Narrowing and elongation of the neural plate
 Cell-shape changes causing neural tube morphogenesis
 Complete tube closure assisted by nonneural ectoderm
 References
 Section III Metamorphosis and Organogenesis.