Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
11:13
Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: February 2, 2016
Expression of transposable elements in neural tissues during Xenopus development.
Fernando Faunes1, Natalia Sanchez, Mauricio Moreno
1Center for Aging and Regeneration and Millennium Nucleus in Regenerative Biology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda, Santiago, Chile.
Plos One
|August 6, 2011
Summary
DNA transposons, like Tc1-like elements, are expressed during Xenopus development, particularly in neural tissues. Their regulation is crucial for genome stability and nervous system development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Transposable elements (TEs) are abundant in animal genomes, influencing genome evolution and gene expression.
- A balance between the beneficial and detrimental effects of TEs is essential for cellular homeostasis, necessitating strict expression regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of DNA transposons from the Tc1/mariner superfamily during Xenopus development.
- To explore the potential role of these transposons in neural tissue development.
Main Methods:
- Detection of sense and antisense transcripts of Tc1-2_Xt in Xenopus embryos.
- Analysis of Tc1-like element expression in X. tropicalis and X. laevis zygotic stages and oocytes.
- Deep sequencing to identify PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) derived from Tc1-like elements in X. tropicalis gastrulae.
Main Results:
- Tc1-2_Xt transcripts were detected in zygotic stages of Xenopus embryos, localized to Spemann's organizer and neural tissues.
- Several Tc1-like elements (Eagle, Froggy, Jumpy, Maya, Xeminos, TXr) were expressed in X. tropicalis zygotic stages but not oocytes.
- While Tc1-2_Xt was absent in X. laevis, other Tc1-like elements (TXr, TXz) showed similar temporal and spatial expression patterns.
- Deep sequencing revealed piRNAs specifically derived from several Tc1-like elements in X. tropicalis gastrulae.
Conclusions:
- Tc1-like elements are expressed in a spatially and temporally regulated manner during Xenopus development.
- The localized expression in neural tissues suggests a potential role for these transposons in Xenopus nervous system development.
- The presence of piRNAs derived from Tc1-like elements indicates a regulatory mechanism is in place.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:13Overview of Transposition and Recombination
Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
02:57DNA-only Transposons
DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
03:18Non-LTR Retrotransposons
As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...