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Updated: Aug 29, 2025
Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis
Published on: February 18, 2020
Transcriptome analysis of the response to thyroid hormone in Xenopus neural stem and progenitor cells
Camila Cordero-Véliz1, Juan Larraín2, Fernando Faunes1
1Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile.
Background:
The thyroid hormones-thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'triiodothyronine (T3)-regulate the development of the central nervous system (CNS) in vertebrates by acting in different cell types. Although several T3 target genes have been identified in the brain, the changes in the transcriptome in response to T3 specifically in neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) during the early steps of NSPCs activation and neurogenesis have not been studied in vivo. Here, we characterized the transcriptome of FACS-sorted NSPCs in response to T3 during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis.
Results:
We identified 1252 upregulated and 726 downregulated genes after 16 hours of T3 exposure. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that T3-upregulated genes were significantly enriched in rRNA processing and maturation, protein folding, ribosome biogenesis, translation, mitochondrial function, and proteasome. These results suggest that NSPCs activation induced by T3 is characterized by an early proteome remodeling through the synthesis of the translation machinery and the degradation of proteins by the proteasome.
Conclusion:
This work provides new insights into the dynamics of activation of NPSCs in vivo in response to T3 during a critical period of neurogenesis in the metamorphosis.
Insights
Thyroid hormone (T3) drives neural stem and progenitor cell activation during metamorphosis. This study reveals early proteome remodeling and gene expression changes in these cells in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Thyroid hormones, including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are crucial for central nervous system (CNS) development in vertebrates.
- While T3 target genes in the brain are known, the specific transcriptomic changes in neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) during early activation and neurogenesis in vivo remain uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo transcriptomic response of NSPCs to T3 during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis.
- To understand the early molecular events governing NSPC activation and neurogenesis under T3 influence.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome characterization of Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)-sorted NSPCs.
- Exposure of NSPCs to T3 for 16 hours.
- Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified 1252 upregulated and 726 downregulated genes in response to T3 exposure.
- T3-upregulated genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to ribosome biogenesis, protein synthesis, mitochondrial function, and proteasome-mediated degradation.
- Indicated early proteome remodeling in NSPCs, involving increased synthesis of translation machinery and protein degradation.
Conclusions:
- This research offers novel insights into the dynamic activation of NSPCs in vivo.
- Highlights the role of T3 in regulating NSPC activation and neurogenesis during the critical metamorphic period.
