Search research articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Xenopus laevis Egg Extract Preparation and Live Imaging Methods for Visualizing Dynamic Cytoplasmic Organization

Xenopus laevis Egg Extract Preparation and Live Imaging Methods for Visualizing Dynamic Cytoplasmic Organization

Published on: June 6, 2021

Robust trigger wave speed in Xenopus cytoplasmic extracts.

Jo-Hsi Huang¹, Yuping Chen^2,3, William Y C Huang²

¹Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. johsi@stanford.edu.

Nature Communications

|July 10, 2024

Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Surgical Outcomes of Perioperative Toripalimab in Stage III Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Post Hoc Analysis of the Neotorch Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA surgery·2026

Same author

Emergent piezoelectricity as the driving force for mechanoluminescence in crystals of atomically precise copper nanoclusters.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Dark tea-derived exosome-like nanovesicles suppress hepatocellular carcinoma via inhibiting Akt pathway and modulating immune profiles.

Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology·2026

Same author

Towards the construction of a virtual yeast.

Nature·2026

Same author

Unlocking HClO detection via an AIE "off-on-off" fluorescent switch.

Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy·2026

Same author

FAP-α-Responsive Size-Transformable Lipid Nanoparticles for Stromal Remodeling and Enhanced Drug Penetration in Fibrotic Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Trigger waves in cytoplasm maintain consistent speed despite concentration changes, ensuring reliable cellular communication. This robustness is crucial for rapid embryonic cell cycles.

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Self-regenerating trigger waves provide reliable long-range communication within the cytoplasm.
Cytoplasmic macromolecular concentration fluctuates due to physiological and environmental changes, potentially impacting wave propagation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the robustness of trigger wave speeds amidst cytoplasmic concentration variations.
To understand the mechanisms underlying trigger wave speed invariance.
To explore the implications for embryonic cell cycle reliability.

Main Methods:

Experiments using Xenopus egg extracts to observe trigger wave propagation.
Development of a mathematical model to explain observed wave behaviors.
Manipulation of cytoplasmic viscosity to test model predictions.

More Related Videos

Reconstitution Of β-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract

Reconstitution Of β-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract

Published on: June 17, 2014

A Cell Free Assay to Study Chromatin Decondensation at the End of Mitosis

A Cell Free Assay to Study Chromatin Decondensation at the End of Mitosis

Published on: December 19, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Xenopus laevis Egg Extract Preparation and Live Imaging Methods for Visualizing Dynamic Cytoplasmic Organization

Xenopus laevis Egg Extract Preparation and Live Imaging Methods for Visualizing Dynamic Cytoplasmic Organization

Published on: June 6, 2021

Reconstitution Of β-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract

Reconstitution Of β-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract

Published on: June 17, 2014

A Cell Free Assay to Study Chromatin Decondensation at the End of Mitosis

A Cell Free Assay to Study Chromatin Decondensation at the End of Mitosis

Published on: December 19, 2015

Main Results:

Mitotic and apoptotic trigger wave speeds were found to be remarkably invariant across a range of cytoplasmic concentrations.
A derived model accurately predicted wave speed robustness and slowing at extreme concentrations.
Artificially maintaining constant cytoplasmic viscosity eliminated trigger wave speed robustness during dilution.

Conclusions:

The balance between increased reactant concentration and increased viscosity in the cytoplasm explains trigger wave speed robustness.
This robustness is vital for the consistent and rapid progression of the embryonic cell cycle.
Trigger wave dynamics are resilient to cytoplasmic fluctuations, ensuring functional cellular signaling.