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Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Generation of Chimeric Axolotls with Mutant Haploid Limbs Through Embryonic Grafting
Published on: January 29, 2020
Pseudotyped baculovirus is an effective gene expression tool for studying molecular function during axolotl limb
Catarina R Oliveira1, Regis Lemaitre2, Prayag Murawala3
1DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
Axolotls can regenerate complex structures through recruitment and remodeling of cells within mature tissues. Accessing the underlying mechanisms at a molecular resolution is crucial to understand how injury triggers regeneration and how it proceeds. However, gene transformation in adult tissues can be challenging. Here we characterize the use of pseudotyped baculovirus (BV) as an effective gene transfer method both for cells within mature limb tissue and within the blastema. These cells remain competent to participate in regeneration after transduction. We further characterize the effectiveness of BV for gene overexpression studies by overexpressing Shh in the blastema, which yields a high penetrance of classic polydactyly phenotypes. Overall, our work establishes BV as a powerful tool to access gene function in axolotl limb regeneration.
