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Updated: May 9, 2026
09:52
Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments
Published on: February 4, 2021
Development: scaling to size by protease inhibition.
Edward M De Robertis1, Gabriele Colozza
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, CA 90095-1662, USA. ederobertis@mednet.ucla.edu
Current Biology : CB
|August 10, 2013
Summary
The dorsal half of Xenopus laevis embryos can regenerate a complete organism. Removing ventral tissue steepens the Chordin gradient by reducing Sizzled, a key inhibitor.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Regenerative medicine
- Xenopus laevis research
Background:
- The dorsal half of bisected Xenopus laevis embryos exhibits remarkable regenerative capacity, forming a smaller but complete organism.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing this regeneration is crucial for advancing regenerative medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ventral tissue removal in modulating the Chordin gradient during Xenopus laevis embryonic regeneration.
- To elucidate the molecular interactions between Sizzled and Tolloid chordinases in this process.
Main Methods:
- Embryonic bisecting of Xenopus laevis.
- Analysis of Chordin gradient formation.
- Assessment of Sizzled and Tolloid chordinase activity.
Main Results:
- Removal of ventral tissue in bisected Xenopus laevis embryos leads to a more pronounced dorsal Chordin gradient.
- This steeper gradient is achieved through the reduction of Sizzled, a secreted inhibitor.
- Sizzled's inhibition of Tolloid chordinases is critical for establishing the observed Chordin gradient.
Conclusions:
- Ventral tissue plays a significant role in regulating embryonic patterning through its influence on secreted factors.
- The modulation of the Chordin gradient by Sizzled and Tolloid chordinases is a key mechanism in Xenopus laevis regeneration.
- These findings offer insights into developmental plasticity and potential therapeutic targets in regenerative biology.
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