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 reticulum -- Mechanism(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 oogenesis -- Vegetal 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 Cells -- Introduction -- 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 questions -- Concluding 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 -- 10 Primordial Germ Cell Migration -- References -- 11 Development of Gonads, Sex Determination, and Sex Reversal in Xenopus -- Origin and structure of undifferentiated gonad -- Sexual differentiation of the gonads -- Development of testis -- Spermatogenesis -- Development of ovary -- Sex determination -- Sex reversal -- Conclusions -- References -- 12 The Xenopus Pronephros: A Kidney Model Making Leaps toward Understanding Tubule Development -- Introduction -- Xenopus embryonic kidney development -- Xenopus as a model of disease and regeneration -- Modulation of gene expression -- Imaging -- Screens -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments.

References -- 13 Development of Neural Tissues in Xenopus laevis -- Introduction -- Xenopus as a model system of neural development -- Neural specification -- Formation of the anterior-posterior axis -- Neurulation and dorsal-ventral patterning -- Neural plate border specification and neural crest induction -- Neural crest delamination and migration -- Molecular regulation of neurogenesis -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 14 The Development of the Immune System in Xenopus -- Introduction -- The establishment of innate immunity components during Xenopus ontogeny -- The establishment of the adaptive immune system components -- Selection of T and B cell repertoires -- Immunity during ontogeny -- Immunological issues at metamorphosis -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 15 Neural Regeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles during Metamorphosis -- Spinal cord regeneration -- Lens regeneration -- Neural retina regeneration -- Optic nerve regeneration -- Role of neural regeneration during tail regeneration -- Role of neural regeneration during limb regeneration -- Telencephalon and mesencephalon regeneration -- Summary and future perspectives -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Section IV Novel Techniques and Approaches -- 16 Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of Xenopus laevis Oocyte Plasma Membrane -- Introduction -- Atomic force microscopy -- Sample preparation protocols for AFM imaging of Xenopus laevis oocyte plasma membrane -- AFM imaging of Xenopus laevis oocyte plasma membrane -- Conclusions and future perspectives -- References -- 17 Size Scaling of Subcellular Organelles and Structures in  Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis -- Introduction to organelle scaling -- Xenopus interspecies scaling -- Advantages of studying two closely related Xenopus species -- Interspecies nuclear scaling -- Interspecies mitotic spindle scaling.

Interspecies mitotic chromosome scaling -- Techniques: X. tropicalis egg extracts -- Xenopus developmental scaling -- Developmental nuclear scaling -- Developmental mitotic spindle scaling -- Developmental mitotic chromosome scaling -- Techniques: Xenopus embryo extracts -- Functions of organelle scaling -- Future directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 18 A Model for Retinal Regeneration in Xenopus -- Xenopus as a model animal for the study of retinal regeneration -- X. laevis: A new animal model of retinal regeneration -- Culture models for the study of  X. laevis retinal regeneration -- A transgenic approach to retinal regeneration -- X. tropicalis: A novel animal model for retinal regeneration -- A hypothetical model for retinal regeneration and future perspectives on retinal regeneration studies -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 19 The Xenopus Model for Regeneration Research -- Introduction -- Xenopus tadpole tail regeneration -- Xenopus limb as a model for stimulating regeneration -- Lens regeneration -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 20 Genomics and Genome Engineering in Xenopus -- Introduction -- Xenopus genomics -- Xenopus genome engineering -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Index -- Supplemental Images.