Publications

xenopus borealis as an alternative source of oocytes for biophysical and pharmacological studies of neuronal ion channels.	for the past 30 years, oocytes from xenopus laevis have been extensively used to express and characterise ion channels in an easily controlled environment. here we report the first use of oocytes from the closely related species xenopus borealis as an alternative expression system for neuronal ion channels. using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, we show that a wide variety of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels have the same channel properties and pharmacological profiles when expre ...	2015	26440210
semi-solid tumor model in xenopus laevis/gilli cloned tadpoles for intravital study of neovascularization, immune cells and melanophore infiltration.	tumors have the ability to grow as a self-sustaining entity within the body. this autonomy is in part accomplished by the tumor cells ability to induce the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and by controlling cell trafficking inside the tumor mass. these abilities greatly reduce the efficacy of many cancer therapies and pose challenges for the development of more effective cancer treatments. hence, there is a need for animal models suitable for direct microscopy observation of blood ...	2015	25601449
evidence from peptidomic analysis of skin secretions that allopatric populations of xenopus gilli (anura:pipidae) constitute distinct lineages.	the international union for conservation of nature (iucn) endangered cape platanna xenopus gilli inhabits disjunct ranges at the tip of cape peninsula and near the town of kleinmond on opposite sides of false bay in the extreme southwest of africa. peptidomic analysis of host-defense peptides in norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions from frogs from the cape peninsula range resulted in the identification of two magainins, two peptide glycine-leucine-amide (pgla) peptides, two xenopsin-precurs ...	2015	25433327
t-cell internal antigen 1 counteracts somatic rna degradation during early xenopus embryogenesis.	in xenopus laevis, maternal transcripts that localize to the vegetal cortex of the oocyte are specifically inherited by prospective germ cells during cleavage stages. while a large fraction of maternal transcripts is degraded during the maternal to zygotic transition (mzt), transcripts associated with the germ-line are stable. a sequence in the dead end 1 3'utr mediates vegetal localization in the oocyte as well as mir mediated clearance in somatic cells and germ cell specific stabilization duri ...	2015	26864483
alternatively spliced isoforms of kv10.1 potassium channels modulate channel properties and can activate cyclin-dependent kinase in xenopus oocytes.	kv10.1 is a voltage-gated potassium channel expressed selectively in the mammalian brain but also aberrantly in cancer cells. in this study we identified short splice variants of kv10.1 resulting from exon-skipping events (e65 and e70) in human brain and cancer cell lines. the presence of the variants was confirmed by northern blot and rnase protection assays. both variants completely lacked the transmembrane domains of the channel and produced cytoplasmic proteins without channel function. in a ...	2015	26518875
novel reporter for faithful monitoring of erk2 dynamics in living cells and model organisms.	uncoupling of erk1/2 phosphorylation from subcellular localization is essential towards the understanding of molecular mechanisms that control erk1/2-mediated cell-fate decision. erk1/2 non-catalytic functions and discoveries of new specific anchors responsible of the subcellular compartmentalization of erk1/2 signaling pathway have been proposed as regulation mechanisms for which dynamic monitoring of erk1/2 localization is necessary. however, studying the spatiotemporal features of erk2, for i ...	2015	26517832
identification and bioinformatics analyses of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors in xenopus laevis.	xenopus laevis is a long established model organism for developmental, behavioral and neurological studies. herein, an updated genome-wide survey was conducted using the ongoing genome project of xenopus laevis and 106 non-redundant basic helix-loop-helix (bhlh) genes were identified in the xenopus laevis genome databases. gene ontology (go) enrichment statistics showed 51 significant go annotations of biological processes and molecular functions and 5 significant kegg pathways and a number of x ...	2015	26506645
up-regulation of intestinal phosphate transporter napi-iib (slc34a2) by the kinases spak and osr1.	spak (sps1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and osr1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1), kinases controlled by wnk (with-no-k[lys] kinase), are powerful regulators of cellular ion transport and blood pressure. observations in gene-targeted mice disclosed an impact of spak/osr1 on phosphate metabolism. the present study thus tested whether spak and/or osr1 contributes to the regulation of the intestinal na(+)-coupled phosphate co-transporter napi-iib (slc34a2).	2015	26506223
a database of microrna expression patterns in xenopus laevis.	micrornas (mirnas) are short, non-coding rnas around 22 nucleotides long. they inhibit gene expression either by translational repression or by causing the degradation of the mrnas they bind to. many are highly conserved amongst diverse organisms and have restricted spatio-temporal expression patterns during embryonic development where they are thought to be involved in generating accuracy of developmental timing and in supporting cell fate decisions and tissue identity. we determined the expres ...	2015	26506012
dose-dependent early life stage toxicities in xenopus laevis exposed in ovo to selenium.	selenium (se) is a developmental toxicant in oviparous vertebrates. the adverse reproductive effects of se toxicity have been predominantly investigated in fishes and birds with only a few studies focusing on amphibians. the objective of this study was to determine tissue-based toxicity thresholds for early life stage se toxicities in xenopus laevis as a consequence of in ovo exposure through maternal transfer of dietary se. following a 68-day dietary exposure to food augmented with l-selenometh ...	2015	26501870
rna-seq and microarray analysis of the xenopus inner ear transcriptome discloses orthologous omim(®) genes for hereditary disorders of hearing and balance.	auditory and vestibular disorders are prevalent sensory disabilities caused by genetic and environmental (noise, trauma, chemicals) factors that often damage mechanosensory hair cells of the inner ear. development of treatments for inner ear disorders of hearing and balance relies on the use of animal models such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and non-human mammals. here, we aimed to augment the utility of the genus xenopus for uncovering genetic mechanisms essential for the maintenance o ...	2015	26582541
the expression of talen before fertilization provides a rapid knock-out phenotype in xenopus laevis founder embryos.	recent advances in genome editing using programmable nucleases have revolutionized gene targeting in various organisms. successful gene knock-out has been shown in xenopus, a widely used model organism, although a system enabling less mosaic knock-out in founder embryos (f0) needs to be explored in order to judge phenotypes in the f0 generation. here, we injected modified highly active transcription activator-like effector nuclease (talen) mrna to oocytes at the germinal vesicle (gv) stage, foll ...	2015	26580070
gremlin1 induces anterior-posterior limb bifurcations in developing xenopus limbs but does not enhance limb regeneration.	gremlin1 (grem1) has been previously identified as being significantly up-regulated during regeneration of xenopus laevis limbs. grem1 is an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins (bmps) with a known role in limb development in amniotes. it forms part of a self-regulating feedback loop linking epithelial (fgf) and mesenchymal (shh) signalling centres, thereby controlling outgrowth, anterior posterior and proximal distal patterning. spatiotemporal regulation of the same genes in developing and ...	2015	26527308
affinity of the heparin binding motif of noggin1 to heparan sulfate and its visualization in the embryonic tissues.	heparin binding motifs were found in many secreted proteins and it was suggested that they are responsible for retardation of the protein diffusion within the intercellular space due to the binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycanes (hspg). here we used synthetic fitc labeled heparin binding motif (hbm peptide) of the xenopus laevis secreted bmp inhibitor noggin1 to study its diffusion along the surface of the heparin beads by frap method. as a result, we have found out that diffusivity of hbm-la ...	2015	26525852
[role of monocarboxylate transporter in statin-induced cytotoxicity].	although exercise and drug therapy are important to prevent progression of arteriosclerotic disease, exercise leads to an increase in muscular disorder induced by hmg-coa reductase inhibitors (statins). elucidation of this mechanism is needed to prevent the occurrence of muscular disorders. since exercise induces expression of monocarboxylate transporter (mct) 4, we focused on the association between mct4 function and statin-induced muscle injury. first, we examined the transport of l-lactate vi ...	2015	26521871
the differential effects of resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin on the gaba-induced current in gabaa receptor subtypes expressed in xenopus laevis oocytes.	the natural products resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin have been reported to have many beneficial effects, which include the enhancement of cognition and memory. there have been no studies which have reported the effects of these compounds on the different gabaa receptor subtypes and this study aimed to address this.	2015	26626239
analysis of neural progenitors from embryogenesis to juvenile adult in xenopus laevis reveals biphasic neurogenesis and continuous lengthening of the cell cycle.	xenopus laevis is a prominent model system for studying neural development, but our understanding of the long-term temporal dynamics of neurogenesis remains incomplete. here, we present the first continuous description of neurogenesis in x. laevis, covering the entire period of development from the specification of neural ectoderm during gastrulation to juvenile frog. we have used molecular markers to identify progenitors and neurons, short-term bromodeoxyuridine (brdu) incorporation to map the ...	2015	26621828
correction: integrin α5β1 function is regulated by xgipc/kermit2 mediated endocytosis during xenopus laevis gastrulation.		2015	26605543
involvement of slit-robo signaling in the development of the posterior commissure and concomitant swimming behavior in xenopus laevis.	during vertebrate development, the central nervous system (cns) has stereotyped neuronal tracts (scaffolds) that include longitudinal and commissural axonal bundles, such as the medial longitudinal fascicle or the posterior commissure (pc). as these early tracts appear to guide later-developing neurons, they are thought to provide the basic framework of vertebrate neuronal circuitry. the proper construction of these neuronal circuits is thought to be a crucial step for eliciting coordinated beha ...	2015	26605073
involvement of the l-type amino acid transporter lat2 in the transport of 3,3'-diiodothyronine across the plasma membrane.	thyroid hormones are transported across cell membranes by transmembrane transporter proteins, for example by members of the monocarboxylate transporter (mct) and the l-type amino acid transporter (lat) families. lats consist of a light chain (e.g. lat2) and a heavy chain (cd98), which is essential for their cell surface expression and functionality. the specificity of lat2 for thyroid hormones and their metabolites and its role in their transport was not fully clear. this fact motivated us to es ...	2015	26601072
regulation of the na+,cl- coupled creatine transporter creat (slc6a8) by the janus kinase jak3.	the creatine transporter creat (slc6a8), a na+,cl- coupled transporter is expressed in diverse tissues including the brain. genetic defects of slc6a8 result in mental retardation with seizures. the present study explored the regulation of creat by janus kinase jak3, which is expressed in a variety of tissues including the brain and participates in the regulation of cell survival and differentiation of neuronal precursor cells.	2015	26666525
up-regulation of voltage gated k+ channels kv1.3 and kv1.5 by protein kinase pkb/akt.	the voltage gated k+ channels kv1.3 and kv1.5 contribute to the orchestration of cell proliferation. kinases participating in the regulation of cell proliferation include protein kinase b (pkb/akt). the present study thus explored whether pkb/akt modifies the abundance and function of kv1.3 and kv1.5.	2015	26666245
pou5f3.2-induced proliferative state of embryonic cells during gastrulation of xenopus laevis embryo.	pou class v (pou-v) transcription factors play the important role in maintenance of pluripotency and cell differentiation. pou5f3.2 (oct25), one of xenopus pou-v transcription factors, shows the zygotic expression prior to gastrulation. in order to know the molecular mechanism of pou5f3.2 expression at gastrula stage, we examined a responsiveness of pou5f3.2 to nodal signaling. animal cap assay demonstrated that xnr2 activates the gene expression of pou5f3.2. in comparative analysis of the 5'-fl ...	2015	26660397
the polarity protein inturned links nphp4 to daam1 to control the subapical actin network in multiciliated cells.	motile cilia polarization requires intracellular anchorage to the cytoskeleton; however, the molecular machinery that supports this process remains elusive. we report that inturned plays a central role in coordinating the interaction between cilia-associated proteins and actin-nucleation factors. we observed that knockdown of nphp4 in multiciliated cells of the xenopus laevis epidermis compromised ciliogenesis and directional fluid flow. depletion of nphp4 disrupted the subapical actin layer. co ...	2015	26644512
spak and osr1 sensitive kir2.1 k+ channels.	kir2.1 (kcnj2) channels are expressed in neurons, skeletal muscle and cardiac tissue and maintain the resting membrane potential. the activity of those channels is regulated by diverse signalling molecules. the present study explored whether kir2.1 channels are sensitive to the transporter and channels regulating kinases spak (sps1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and osr1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1), which are in turn regulated by wnk (with-no-k[lys]) kinases.	2015	26673921
hepatocystin is essential for trpm7 function during early embryogenesis.	mutations in protein kinase c substrate 80k-h (prkcsh), which encodes for an 80 kda protein named hepatocystin (80k-h, prkcsh), gives rise to polycystic liver disease (pcld). hepatocystin functions as the noncatalytic beta subunit of glucosidase ii, an endoplasmic reticulum (er)-resident enzyme involved in processing and quality control of newly synthesized glycoproteins. patients harboring heterozygous germline mutations in prkcsh are thought to develop renal cysts as a result of somatic loss o ...	2015	26671672
up-regulation of excitatory amino acid transporters eaat1 and eaat2 by ß-klotho.	klotho, a transmembrane protein expressed in chorioid plexus of the brain, kidney, and several other tissues, is required for inhibition of 1,25(oh)2d3 formation by fgf23. the extracellular domain of klotho protein could be cleaved off, thus being released into blood or cerebrospinal fluid. at least in part by exerting β-glucuronidase activity, soluble klotho regulates several ion channels and carriers. klotho protein deficiency accelerates the appearance of age related disorders including neuro ...	2015	26684854
thrombopoietin induces production of nucleated thrombocytes from liver cells in xenopus laevis.	the development of mammalian megakaryocytes (mks) and platelets, which are thought to be absent in non-mammals, is primarily regulated by the thrombopoietin (tpo)/mpl system. although non-mammals possess nucleated thrombocytes instead of platelets, the features of nucleated thrombocyte progenitors remain to be clarified. here, we provide the general features of tpo using xenopus laevis tpo (xltpo). hepatic and splenic cells were cultured in liquid suspension with recombinant xltpo. these cells d ...	2015	26687619
subcellular localization of class i histone deacetylases in the developing xenopus tectum.	histone deacetylases (hdacs) are thought to localize in the nucleus to regulate gene transcription and play pivotal roles in neurogenesis, apoptosis, and plasticity. however, the subcellular distribution of class i hdacs in the developing brain remains unclear. here, we show that hdac1 and hdac2 are located in both the mitochondria and the nucleus in the xenopus laevis stage 34 tectum and are mainly restricted to the nucleus following further brain development. hdac3 is widely present in the mit ...	2015	26793062
mixture toxicity of microcystin-lr, paraoxon and bromadiolone in xenopus laevis embryos.	apart from infections and habitat loss, environmental pollution is another major factor of global decline of amphibians. using the model of xenopus laevis embryos, we test the hypothesis that combined exposure of amphibians to natural toxins and anthropogenic pollutants induces more pronounced adverse effects than single exposures.	2015	26757121
molecular and cytological analyses reveal distinct transformations of intestinal epithelial cells during xenopus metamorphosis.	the thyroid hormone (t3)-induced formation of adult intestine during amphibian metamorphosis resembles the maturation of the mammalian intestine during postembryonic development, the period around birth when plasma t3 level peaks. this process involves de novo formation of adult intestinal stem cells as well as the removal of the larval epithelial cells through apoptosis. earlier studies have revealed a number of cytological and molecular markers for the epithelial cells undergoing different cha ...	2015	26719790
on the embryonic cell division beyond the contractile ring mechanism: experimental and computational investigation of effects of vitelline confinement, temperature and egg size.	embryonic cell division is a mechanical process which is predominantly driven by contraction of the cleavage furrow and response of the remaining cellular matter. while most previous studies focused on contractile ring mechanisms of cytokinesis, effects of environmental factors such as pericellular vitelline membrane and temperature on the mechanics of dividing cells were rarely studied. here, we apply a model-based analysis to the time-lapse imaging data of two species (saccoglossus kowalevskii ...	2015	26713241
using confocal analysis of xenopus laevis to investigate modulators of wnt and shh morphogen gradients.	this protocol describes a method to visualise ligands distributed across a field of cells. the ease of expressing exogenous proteins, together with the large size of their cells in early embryos, make xenopus laevis a useful model for visualising gfp-tagged ligands. synthetic mrnas are efficiently translated after injection into early stage xenopus embryos, and injections can be targeted to a single cell. when combined with a lineage tracer such as membrane tethered rfp, the injected cell (and i ...	2015	26709854
fiber size-selective stimulation using action potential filtering for a peripheral nerve interface: a simulation study.	functional electrical stimulation is a powerful tool for restoration of function after nerve injury. however selectivity of stimulation remains an issue. this paper presents an alternative stimulation technique to obtain fiber size-selective stimulation of nerves using fda-approved electrode implants. the technique was simulated for the ventral roots of xenopus laevis, motivated by an application in bladder control. the technique relies on applying a high frequency alternating current to filter ...	2015	26737025
global analysis of asymmetric rna enrichment in oocytes reveals low conservation between closely related xenopus species.	rnas that localize to the vegetal cortex during xenopus laevis oogenesis have been reported to function in germ layer patterning, axis determination, and development of the primordial germ cells. here we report on the genome-wide, comparative analysis of differentially localizing rnas in xenopus laevis and xenopus tropicalis oocytes, revealing a surprisingly weak degree of conservation in respect to the identity of animally as well as vegetally enriched transcripts in these closely related speci ...	2015	26337391
hspa9 is required for pronephros specification and formation in xenopus laevis.	development of the pronephros in xenopus laevis is largely dependent on retinoic acid signaling at the time of kidney field specification with the simultaneous occurrence of a necessary calcium signaling. at the crossroads of these two signaling pathways, we studied the role of hspa9 (heat shock 70 kda protein 9) encoding a mitochondrial chaperone in pronephros development.	2015	26335666
sensory-evoked spiking behavior emerges via an experience-dependent plasticity mechanism.	the ability to generate action potentials (spikes) in response to synaptic input determines whether a neuron participates in information processing. how a developing neuron becomes an active participant in a circuit or whether this process is activity dependent is not known, especially as spike-dependent plasticity mechanisms would not be available to non-spiking neurons. here we use the optic tectum of awake xenopus laevis tadpoles to determine how a neuron becomes able to generate sensory-driv ...	2015	26335647
copy number variation and genetic diversity of mhc class iib alleles in an alien population of xenopus laevis.	xenopus laevis (the african clawed frog), which originated through hybridisation and whole genome duplication, has been used as a model for genetics and development for many years, but surprisingly little is known about immune gene variation in natural populations. the purpose of this study was to use an isolated population of x. laevis that was introduced to wales, uk in the past 50 years to investigate how variation at the mhc compares to that at other loci, following a severe population bottl ...	2015	26329765
characterization of ticlopidine-induced developmental and teratogenic defects in xenopus embryos and human endothelial cells.	ticlopidine is an anti-platelet drug that inhibits platelet aggregation via the functional alteration of platelet membranes. however, the mechanism underlying the adverse developmental effects of ticlopidine has not been clearly demonstrated. in this study, we evaluated the developmental toxicity and teratogenicity of ticlopidine on xenopus laevis embryos and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (huvecs) using a frog embryo teratogenesis assay-xenopus (fetax) and blood and lymph vessel form ...	2015	26327247
glutathione release through connexin hemichannels: implications for chemical modification of pores permeable to large molecules.	cysteine-scanning mutagenesis combined with thiol reagent modification is a powerful method with which to define the pore-lining elements of channels and the changes in structure that accompany channel gating. using the xenopus laevis oocyte expression system and two-electrode voltage clamp, we performed cysteine-scanning mutagenesis of several pore-lining residues of connexin 26 (cx26) hemichannels, followed by chemical modification using a methanethiosulfonate (mts) reagent, to help identify t ...	2015	26324677
prepatterning and patterning of the thalamus along embryonic development of xenopus laevis.	previous developmental studies of the thalamus (alar part of the diencephalic prosomere p2) have defined the molecular basis for the acquisition of the thalamic competence (preparttening), the subsequent formation of the secondary organizer in the zona limitans intrathalamica, and the early specification of two anteroposterior domains (rostral and caudal progenitor domains) in response to inducing activities and that are shared in birds and mammals. in the present study we have analyzed the embr ...	2015	26321920
aquaporins mediate silicon transport in humans.	in animals, silicon is an abundant and differentially distributed trace element that is believed to play important biological functions. one would thus expect silicon concentrations in body fluids to be regulated by silicon transporters at the surface of many cell types. curiously, however, and even though they exist in plants and algae, no such transporters have been identified to date in vertebrates. here, we show for the first time that the human aquaglyceroporins, i.e., aqp3, aqp7, aqp9 and ...	2015	26313002
effect of a grin2a de novo mutation associated with epilepsy and intellectual disability on nmda receptor currents and mg(2+) block in cultured primary cortical neurons.	background grin2a encodes the glun2a subunit of the nmda receptor (nmdar), an ionotropic glutamate receptor that has important roles in synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. some individuals with early onset epilepsies and intellectual disability carry heterozygous missense mutations in this gene, including a de-novo mutation in the receptor pore region (glun2a(n615k)). we hypothesised that this mutation underlies the carrier's brain disorder and sought to explore its functional consequences.	2015	26312887
prediction of functionally important phospho-regulatory events in xenopus laevis oocytes.	the african clawed frog xenopus laevis is an important model organism for studies in developmental and cell biology, including cell-signaling. however, our knowledge of x. laevis protein post-translational modifications remains scarce. here, we used a mass spectrometry-based approach to survey the phosphoproteome of this species, compiling a list of 2636 phosphosites. we used structural information and phosphoproteomic data for 13 other species in order to predict functionally important phospho- ...	2015	26312481
targeted inhibition of snail activity in breast cancer cells by using a co(iii) -ebox conjugate.	the transition from a non-invasive to an invasive phenotype is an essential step in tumor metastasis. the snail family of transcription factors (tfs) is known to play a significant role in this transition. these tfs are zinc fingers that bind to the caggtg ebox consensus sequence. co(iii) -ebox is a cobalt(iii) complex attached to an ebox oligonucleotide that confers specificity towards snail tfs. co(iii) -ebox has been shown to inhibit snail-mediated embryonic neural crest development in xenopu ...	2015	26305708
involvement of vat-1 in phosphatidylserine transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria.	mitochondria receive phosphatidylserine (ps) from the endoplasmic reticulum (er), but how ps is moved from the er to mitochondria is unclear. current models postulate a physical link between the organelles, but no involvement of cytosolic proteins. here, we have reconstituted ps transport from the er to mitochondria in vitro using xenopus egg components. transport is independent of er proteins, but is dependent on a cytosolic factor that has a preferential affinity for ps. crosslinking with a ph ...	2015	26394711
the xenopus orfeome: a resource that enables functional genomics.	functional characterisation of proteins and large-scale, systems-level studies are enabled by extensive sets of cloned open reading frames (orfs) in an easily-accessible format that enables many different applications. here we report the release of the first stage of the xenopus orfeome, which contains 8673 orfs from the xenopus gene collection (xgc) for xenopus laevis, cloned into a gateway® donor vector enabling rapid in-frame transfer of the orfs to expression vectors. this resource represent ...	2015	26391338
histone h3 lysine 9 trimethylation is required for suppressing the expression of an embryonically activated retrotransposon in xenopus laevis.	transposable elements in the genome are generally silenced in differentiated somatic cells. however, increasing evidence indicates that some of them are actively transcribed in early embryos and the proper regulation of retrotransposon expression is essential for normal development. although their developmentally regulated expression has been shown, the mechanisms controlling retrotransposon expression in early embryos are still not well understood. here, we observe a dynamic expression pattern ...	2015	26387861
incorporation of non-canonical amino acids.	in this chapter we discuss the strengths, caveats and technical considerations of three approaches for reprogramming the chemical composition of selected amino acids within a membrane protein. in vivo nonsense suppression in the xenopus laevis oocyte, evolved orthogonal trna and aminoacyl-trna synthetase pairs and protein ligation for biochemical production of semisynthetic proteins have been used successfully for ion channel and receptor studies. the level of difficulty for the application of e ...	2015	26381943
molecular cloning and functional expression of the equine k+ channel kv11.1 (ether à go-go-related/kcnh2 gene) and the regulatory subunit kcne2 from equine myocardium.	the kcnh2 and kcne2 genes encode the cardiac voltage-gated k+ channel kv11.1 and its auxiliary β subunit kcne2. kv11.1 is critical for repolarization of the cardiac action potential. in humans, mutations or drug therapy affecting the kv11.1 channel are associated with prolongation of the qt intervals on the ecg and increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia and sudden cardiac death--conditions known as congenital or acquired long qt syndrome (lqts), respectively. in horses, sudden, unexplaine ...	2015	26376488
identification of a vxp targeting signal in the flagellar na+ /k+ -atpase.	na(+) /k(+) -atpase (nka) participates in setting electrochemical gradients, cardiotonic steroid signaling and cellular adhesion. distinct isoforms of nka are found in different tissues and subcellular localization patterns. for example, nka α1 is widely expressed, nka α3 is enriched in neurons and nka α4 is a testes-specific isoform found in sperm flagella. in some tissues, ankyrin, a key component of the membrane cytoskeleton, can regulate the trafficking of nka. in the retina, nka and ankyrin ...	2015	26373354
gata2 regulates wnt signaling to promote primitive red blood cell fate.	primitive erythropoiesis is regulated in a non cell-autonomous fashion across evolution from frogs to mammals. in xenopus laevis, signals from the overlying ectoderm are required to induce the mesoderm to adopt an erythroid fate. previous studies in our lab identified the transcription factor gata2 as a key regulator of this ectodermal signal. to identify gata2 target genes in the ectoderm required for red blood cell formation in the mesoderm, we used microarray analysis to compare gene expressi ...	2015	26365900
role of n-glycosylation in renal betaine transport.	the osmolyte and folding chaperone betaine is transported by the renal na(+)-coupled gaba (γ-aminobutyric acid) symporter bgt-1 (betaine/gaba transporter 1), a member of the slc6 (solute carrier 6) family. under hypertonic conditions, the transcription, translation and plasma membrane (pm) insertion of bgt-1 in kidney cells are significantly increased, resulting in elevated betaine and gaba transport. re-establishing isotonicity involves pm depletion of bgt-1. the molecular mechanism of the regu ...	2015	26348906
kinetochore function is controlled by a phospho-dependent coexpansion of inner and outer components.	it is widely accepted that the kinetochore is built on cenp-a-marked centromeric chromatin in a hierarchical order from inner to outer kinetochore. recruitment of many kinetochore proteins depends on microtubule attachment status, but it remains unclear how their assembly/disassembly is orchestrated. applying 3d structured illumination microscopy to xenopus laevis egg extracts, here we reveal that in the absence of microtubule attachment, proteins responsible for lateral attachment and spindle c ...	2015	26347137
a zinc(ii) photocage based on a decarboxylation metal ion release mechanism for investigating homeostasis and biological signaling.	metal ion signaling in biology has been studied extensively with ortho-nitrobenzyl photocages; however, the low quantum yields and other optical properties are not ideal for these applications. we describe the synthesis and characterization of ntadecage, the first member in a new class of zn(2+) photocages that utilizes a light-driven decarboxylation reaction in the metal ion release mechanism. ntadecage binds zn(2+) with sub-pm affinity using a modified nitrilotriacetate chelator and exhibits a ...	2015	26346802
nf2/merlin is required for the axial pattern formation in the xenopus laevis embryo.	the nf2 gene product merlin is a ferm-domain protein possessing a broad tumor-suppressing function. nf2/merlin has been implicated in regulating multiple signaling pathways critical for cell growth and survival. however, it remains unknown whether nf2/merlin regulates wnt/β-catenin signaling during vertebrate embryogenesis. here we demonstrate that nf2/merlin is required for body pattern formation in the xenopus laevis embryo. depletion of the maternal nf2/merlin enhances organizer gene expressi ...	2015	26344136
biochemical and hematologic reference intervals for aged xenopus laevis in a research colony.	xenopus laevis, the african clawed frog, is commonly used in developmental and toxicology research studies. little information is available on aged x. laevis; however, with the complete mapping of the genome and the availability of transgenic animal models, the number of aged animals in research colonies is increasing. the goals of this study were to obtain biochemical and hematologic parameters to establish reference intervals for aged x. laevis and to compare results with those from young adul ...	2015	26424243
dicalcin, a zona pellucida protein that regulates fertilization competence of the egg coat in xenopus laevis.	fertilization is a highly coordinated process whereby sperm interact with the egg-coating envelope (called the zona pellucida, zp) in a taxon-restricted manner, fertilization triggers the resumption of the cell cycle of the egg, ultimately leading to generation of a new organism that contains hereditary information of the parents. the complete sperm-zp interaction comprises sperm recognition of the zp, the acrosome reaction, penetration of the zp, and fusion with the egg. recent evidence suggest ...	2015	26420688
exposure to 3,3',5-triiodothyronine affects histone and rna polymerase ii modifications, but not dna methylation status, in the regulatory region of the xenopus laevis thyroid hormone receptor βα gene.	thyroid hormones (ths) play a critical role in amphibian metamorphosis, during which the th receptor (tr) gene, thrb, is upregulated in a tissue-specific manner. the xenopus laevis thrb gene has 3 th response elements (tres) in the 5' flanking regulatory region and 1 tre in the exon b region, around which cpg sites are highly distributed. to clarify whether exposure to 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (t3) affects histone and rna polymerase ii (rnapii) modifications and the level of dna methylation in th ...	2015	26417689
low concentrations of metal mixture exposures have adverse effects on selected biomarkers of xenopus laevis tadpoles.	polluted ecosystems may contain mixtures of metals, such that the combinations of metals, even in low concentrations, may cause adverse effects. in the present study, we focused on toxic effects of mixtures of selected metals, the lc50 values, and also their safety limit in aquatic systems imposed by the european legislation using a model organism. xenopus laevis tadpoles were used as test organisms. they were exposed to metals or their combinations due to 96-h lc50 values. glutathione s-transfe ...	2015	26415005
joint effects of pesticides and ultraviolet-b radiation on amphibian larvae.	a combination of multiple stressors may be linked to global amphibian declines. of these, pesticides and uvb radiation co-exposures were examined on the african clawed frog (xenopus laevis) to provide information that may be useful for amphibian conservation. the independent action model and inferential statistics were used to examine interactions between pesticides (malathion, endosulfan, α-cypermethrin, or chlorothalonil) and environmentally relevant uvb exposures. uvb radiation alone caused 3 ...	2015	26412264
the role of flexible loops in folding, trafficking and activity of equilibrative nucleoside transporters.	equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ents) are integral membrane proteins, which reside in plasma membranes of all eukaryotic cells and mediate thermodynamically downhill transport of nucleosides. this process is essential for nucleoside recycling, and also plays a key role in terminating adenosine-mediated cellular signaling. furthermore, ents mediate the uptake of many drugs, including anticancer and antiviral nucleoside analogues. the structure and mechanism, by which ents catalyze trans-me ...	2015	26406980
isoform-specific phosphorylation-dependent regulation of connexin hemichannels.	connexins form gap junction channels made up of two connexons (hemichannels) from adjacent cells. unopposed hemichannels may open toward the extracellular space upon stimulation by, e.g., removal of divalent cations from the extracellular solution and allow isoform-specific transmembrane flux of fluorescent dyes and physiologically relevant molecules, such as atp and ions. connexin (cx)43 and cx30 are the major astrocytic connexins. protein kinase c (pkc) regulates cx43 in its cell-cell gap junc ...	2015	26400258
the xenopus tropicalis orthologue of trpv3 is heat sensitive.	thermosensitive members of the transient receptor potential (trp) family of ion channels (thermal trp channels) play a crucial role in mammalian temperature sensing. orthologues of these channels are present in lower vertebrates and, remarkably, some thermal trp orthologues from different species appear to mediate opposing responses to temperature. for example, whereas the mammalian trpv3 channel is activated by heat, frog trpv3 is reportedly activated by cold. intrigued by the potential implica ...	2015	26458875
the scd6/lsm14 protein xrapb has properties different from rap55 in selecting mrna for early translation or intracellular distribution in xenopus oocytes.	oocytes accumulate mrnas in the form of maternal ribonucleoprotein (rnp) particles, the protein components of which determine the location and stability of individual mrnas prior to translation. scd6/lsm14 proteins, typified by rap55, function in a wide range of eukaryotes in repressing translation and relocating mrnps to processing bodies and stress granules. in xenopus laevis, the rap55 orthologue xrapa fulfils these functions. here we describe the properties of a variant of xrapa, xrapb, whic ...	2015	26455898
rho kinase is required to prevent retinal axons from entering the contralateral optic nerve.	to grow out to contact target neurons an axon uses its distal tip, the growth cone, as a sensor of molecular cues that help the axon make appropriate guidance decisions at a series of choice points along the journey. in the developing visual system, the axons of the output cells of the retina, the retinal ganglion cells (rgcs), cross the brain midline at the optic chiasm. shortly after, they grow past the brain entry point of the optic nerve arising from the contralateral eye, and extend dorso-c ...	2015	26455469
ca(2+)-bk channel clusters in olfactory receptor neurons and their role in odour coding.	olfactory receptor neurons (orns) have high-voltage-gated ca(2+) channels whose physiological impact has remained enigmatic since the voltage-gated conductances in this cell type were first described in the 1980s. here we show that in orn somata of xenopus laevis tadpoles these channels are clustered and co-expressed with large-conductance potassium (bk) channels. we found approximately five clusters per orn and twelve ca(2+) channels per cluster. the action potential-triggered activation of bk ...	2015	26452167
serotonergic regulation of melanocyte conversion: a bioelectrically regulated network for stochastic all-or-none hyperpigmentation.	experimentally induced depolarization of resting membrane potential in "instructor cells" in xenopus laevis embryos causes hyperpigmentation in an all-or-none fashion in some tadpoles due to excess proliferation and migration of melanocytes. we showed that this stochastic process involved serotonin signaling, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (camp), and the transcription factors camp response element-binding protein (creb), sox10, and slug. transcriptional microarray analysis of embryos taken at st ...	2015	26443706
putting it all on pigmentation: heuristics of a bold and stochastic cell fate decision.	gradients of transmembrane potential coordinate cell-fate decisions and patterning during embryogenesis and wound-healing. bioelectrical signaling may also be more important for adult pathologies than currently recognized. in this issue of science signaling, lobikin et al. describe a role for bioelectric signals during the development of xenopus leavis embryos to instruct an organism-level response reminiscent of neoplastic progression in melanoma.	2015	26443702
dual processing of sulfated steroids in the olfactory system of an anuran amphibian.	chemical communication is widespread in amphibians, but if compared to later diverging tetrapods the available functional data is limited. the existing information on the vomeronasal system of anurans is particularly sparse. amphibians represent a transitional stage in the evolution of the olfactory system. most species have anatomically separated main and vomeronasal systems, but recent studies have shown that in anurans their molecular separation is still underway. sulfated steroids function a ...	2015	26441543
xenopus laevis as a model to identify translation impairment.	protein synthesis is a fundamental process to gene expression impacting diverse biological processes notably adaptation to environmental conditions. the initiation step, which involves the assembly of the ribosomal subunits at the mrna initiation codon, involved initiation factor including eif4g1. defects in this rate limiting step of translation are linked to diverse disorders. to study the potential consequences of such deregulations, xenopus laevis oocytes constitute an attractive model with ...	2015	26437037
the phytosiderophore efflux transporter tom2 is involved in metal transport in rice.	iron is an essential metal element for all living organisms. graminaceous plants produce and secrete mugineic acid family phytosiderophores from their roots to acquire iron in the soil. phytosiderophores chelate and solubilize insoluble iron hydroxide in the soil. subsequently, plants take up iron-phytosiderophore complexes through specific transporters on the root cell membrane. phytosiderophores are also thought to be important for the internal transport of various transition metals, including ...	2015	26432636
tebuconazole disrupts steroidogenesis in xenopus laevis.	a 27-day controlled exposure study of adult male african clawed frogs (xenopus laevis) was conducted to examine the mechanism by which tebuconazole may disrupt steroidogenesis. the fungicide was measured by lc-ms/ms in tank water and in target tissues (adipose, kidney, liver, and brain), and we observed tissue-specific bioconcentration with bcf up to 238. up to 10 different steroid hormones were quantified in gonads using lc-ms/ms and in plasma using gc-ms/ms and a radioimmunoassay was performed ...	2015	26432166
functional analysis of phosphorylation of the mitotic centromere-associated kinesin by aurora b kinase in human tumor cells.	mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (mcak) is the best characterized member of the kinesin-13 family and plays important roles in microtubule dynamics during mitosis. its activity and subcellular localization is tightly regulated by an orchestra of mitotic kinases, such as aurora b. it is well known that serine 196 of mcak is the major phosphorylation site of aurora b in xenopus leavis extracts and that this phosphorylation regulates its catalytic activity and subcellular localization. in the ...	2015	26148251
lack of phosphomannomutase 2 affects xenopus laevis morphogenesis and the non-canonical wnt5a/ror2 signalling.	reduced phosphomannomutase 2 activity in man leads to hypoglycosylation of glycoconjugates causing pmm2-cdg, the most common type of congenital disorders of glycosylation. here we show that an antisense morpholino-mediated knockdown of the xenopus laevis phosphomannomutase 2 gene provoked a general underglycosylation in frog embryos, which led to an altered phenotype and reduced glycosylation of wnt5a as member of the non-canonical wnt signalling. loss of function experiments in hemi-sectioned e ...	2015	26141167
evolution of courtship songs in xenopus : vocal pattern generation and sound production.	the extant species of african clawed frogs (xenopus and silurana) provide an opportunity to link the evolution of vocal characters to changes in the responsible cellular and molecular mechanisms. in this review, we integrate several robust lines of research: evolutionary trajectories of xenopus vocalizations, cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of vocalization in selected xenopus model species, and xenopus evolutionary history and speciation mechanisms. integrating recent findings allows us to ...	2015	26138673
3d bio-etching of a complex composite-like embryonic tissue.	morphogenesis involves a complex series of cell signaling, migration and differentiation events that are coordinated as tissues self-assemble during embryonic development. collective cell movements such as those that occur during morphogenesis have typically been studied in 2d with single layers of cultured cells adhering to rigid substrates such as glass or plastic. in vivo, the intricacies of the 3d microenvironment and complex 3d responses are pivotal in the formation of functional tissues. t ...	2015	26138309
distinct functional roles of amphibian (xenopus laevis) colony-stimulating factor-1- and interleukin-34-derived macrophages.	although mϕ represent the most primordial immune cell subsets, the mechanisms governing their functional heterogeneity remain poorly defined. however, it is well established that the csf-1 cytokine contributes to monopoiesis and to this heterogeneity, whereas the unrelated il-34 also binds the csf-1r toward poorly understood immunologic roles. to delineate the molecular and evolutionary basis behind vertebrate mϕ functional heterogeneity, we performed comprehensive transcriptional and functional ...	2015	26136505
sumoylation of the c-terminal domain of dna topoisomerase iiα regulates the centromeric localization of claspin.	dna topoisomerase ii (topoii) regulates dna topology by its strand passaging reaction, which is required for genome maintenance by resolving tangled genomic dna. in addition, topoii contributes to the structural integrity of mitotic chromosomes and to the activation of cell cycle checkpoints in mitosis. post-translational modification of topoii is one of the key mechanisms by which its broad functions are regulated during mitosis. sumoylation of topoii is conserved in eukaryotes and plays a crit ...	2015	26131587
using xenopus to discover new genes involved in branchiootorenal spectrum disorders.	congenital hearing loss is an important clinical problem because, without early intervention, affected children do not properly acquire language and consequently have difficulties developing social skills. although most newborns in the us are screened for hearing deficits, even earlier diagnosis can be made with prenatal genetic screening. genetic screening that identifies the relevant mutated gene can also warn about potential congenital defects in organs not related to hearing. we will discuss ...	2015	26117063
spak and osr1 sensitivity of excitatory amino acid transporter eaat3.	kinases involved in the regulation of epithelial transport include spak (sps1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and osr1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1). spak and osr1 are both regulated by wnk (with-no-k(lys)) kinases. the present study explored whether spak and/or osr1 influence the excitatory amino acid transporter eaat3, which accomplishes glutamate and aspartate transport in kidney, intestine and brain.	2015	26112741
structure and gating of the nuclear pore complex.	nuclear pore complexes (npcs) perforate the nuclear envelope and allow the exchange of macromolecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. to acquire a deeper understanding of this transport mechanism, we analyse the structure of the npc scaffold and permeability barrier, by reconstructing the xenopus laevis oocyte npc from native nuclear envelopes up to 20 å resolution by cryo-electron tomography in conjunction with subtomogram averaging. in addition to resolving individual protein domains of ...	2015	26112706
benchmarking transcriptome quantification methods for duplicated genes in xenopus laevis.	xenopus is an important model organism for the study of genome duplication in vertebrates. with the full genome sequence of diploid xenopus tropicalis available, and that of allotetraploid x. laevis close to being finished, we will be able to expand our understanding of how duplicated genes have evolved. one of the key features in the study of the functional consequence of gene duplication is how their expression patterns vary across different conditions, and rna-seq seems to have enough resolut ...	2015	26112470
melanopsins: localization and phototransduction in xenopus laevis melanophores.	xenopus laevis melanophores express two melanopsins, opn4x and opn4m. we identified opn4x immunoreactivity throughout the melanophore cytoplasm and in the cell membrane. the strongest immunopositivity for opn4m was observed in the nuclear region, and no labeling was seen in the cell membrane. this immunodistribution suggests opn4x as the functional photopigment. in x. laevis melanophores, light triggers pigment dispersion and clock gene induction at blue wavelength, which maximally activates mel ...	2015	26108966
bh3 domain-independent apolipoprotein l1 toxicity rescued by bcl2 prosurvival proteins.	the potent trypanolytic properties of human apolipoprotein l1 (apol1) can be neutralized by the trypanosome variant surface antigen gene product known as serum resistance-associated protein. however, two common apol1 haplotypes present uniquely in individuals of west african ancestry each encode apol1 variants resistant to serum resistance-associated protein, and each confers substantial resistance to human african sleeping sickness. in contrast to the dominantly inherited anti-trypanosomal acti ...	2015	26108665
structure-activity relationships of bumetanide derivatives: correlation between diuretic activity in dogs and inhibition of the human nkcc2a transporter.	the n-k-cl cotransporters (nkccs) mediate the coupled, electroneutral movement of na+ , k+ and cl- ions across cell membranes. there are two isoforms of this cation co-transporter, nkcc1 and nkcc2. nkcc2 is expressed primarily in the kidney and is the target of diuretics such as bumetanide. bumetanide was discovered by screening ∼5000 3-amino-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives, long before nkcc2 was identified in the kidney. therefore, structure-activity studies on effects of bumetanide derivat ...	2015	26101812
melanopsin photoreception in the eye regulates light-induced skin colour changes through the production of α-msh in the pituitary gland.	how skin colour adjusts to circadian light/dark cycles is poorly understood. melanopsin (opn4) is expressed in melanophores, where in vitro studies suggest it regulates skin pigmentation through a 'primary colour response' in which light photosensitivity is translated directly into pigment movement. however, the entrainment of the circadian rhythm is regulated by a population of melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mrgcs) in the eye. therefore, in vivo, melanopsin may trigger a 'seconda ...	2015	26095528
herg channel inhibitory daphnane diterpenoid orthoesters and polycephalones a and b with unprecedented skeletons from gnidia polycephala.	the herg channel is an important antitarget in safety pharmacology. several drugs have been withdrawn from the market or received severe usage restrictions because of herg-related cardiotoxicity. in a screening of medicinal plants for herg channel inhibition using a two-microelectrode voltage clamp assay with xenopus laevis oocytes, a dichloromethane extract of the roots of gnidia polycephala reduced the peak tail herg current by 58.8 ± 13.4% (n = 3) at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. by means of ...	2015	26091146
functional characteristics of l1156f-cftr associated with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis in japanese.	although cystic fibrosis is rare in japanese, measurement of sweat cl(-) has suggested mild dysfunction of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr) in some patients with chronic pancreatitis. in the present study, we have investigated the association of cftr variants and chronic pancreatitis in japanese and the functional characteristics of a japanese- and pancreatitis-specific cftr variant, l1156f. seventy patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, 18 patients with idiopath ...	2015	26089335
direct activation of amidohydrolase domain-containing 1 gene by thyroid hormone implicates a role in the formation of adult intestinal stem cells during xenopus metamorphosis.	the t3-dependent anuran metamorphosis resembles postembryonic development in mammals, the period around birth when plasma t3 levels peak. in particular, the remodeling of the intestine during metamorphosis mimics neonatal intestinal maturation in mammals when the adult intestinal epithelial self-renewing system is established. we have been using intestinal metamorphosis to investigate how the organ-specific adult stem cells are formed during vertebrate development. early studies in xenopus laevi ...	2015	26086244
spermidine and ca(2+), but not na(+), can permeate nmda receptors consisting of glun1 and glun2a or glun2b in the presence of mg(2+).	n-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (nmda receptors) are known to be permeable to na(+) and ca(2+) ions. in this study, we tested whether polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine), organic cations found in cells, can permeate nmda receptors expressed in xenopus laevis oocytes and hek293 cells. it was found that polyamines, especially spermidine, can permeate nmda channels expressed from glun1/glun2a or glun1/glun2b activated by glycine and glutamate. furthermore, spermidine and ca(2+) influx thro ...	2015	26086092
expression, sorting and transport studies for the orphan carrier slc10a4 in neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines and in xenopus laevis oocytes.	slc10a4 belongs to the solute carrier family slc10 whose founding members are the na(+)/taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (ntcp, slc10a1) and the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (asbt, slc10a2). these carriers maintain the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids between the liver and the gut. slc10a4 was identified as a novel member of the slc10 carrier family with the highest phylogenetic relationship to ntcp. the slc10a4 protein was detected in synaptic vesicles of choline ...	2015	26084360
asymmetries in kinesin-2 and cytoplasmic dynein contributions to melanosome transport.	the mechanisms involved in bidirectional transport along microtubules remain largely unknown. we explored the collective action of kinesin-2 and dynein motors during transport of melanosomes in xenopus laevis melanophores. these motors are attached to organelles through accessory proteins establishing a complex molecular linker. we determined both the stiffness of this linker and the organelles speed and observed that these parameters depended on the organelle size and cargo direction. our resul ...	2015	26247430
conservation of structure and function in vertebrate c-flip proteins despite rapid evolutionary change.	cellular flice-like inhibitory protein (c-flip, gene symbol cflar) was first identified as a negative regulator of death receptor-mediated apoptosis in mammals. to understand the ubiquity and diversity of the c-flip protein subfamily during evolution, c-flip orthologs were identified from a comprehensive range of vertebrates, including birds, amphibians, and fish, and were characterized by combining experimental and computational analysis. predictions of three-dimensional protein structures and ...	2015	29124180
g protein-coupled receptors flop1 and flop2 inhibit wnt/β-catenin signaling and are essential for head formation in xenopus.	patterning of the vertebrate anterior-posterior axis is regulated by the coordinated action of growth factors whose effects can be further modulated by upstream and downstream mediators and the cross-talk of different intracellular pathways. in particular, the inhibition of the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by various factors is critically required for anterior specification. here, we report that flop1 and flop2 (flop1/2), g protein-coupled receptors related to gpr4, contribute to the regulati ...	2015	26244992
fertilization competence of the egg-coating envelope is regulated by direct interaction of dicalcin and gp41, the xenopus laevis zp3.	fertilization begins with species-restricted interaction of sperm and the egg-coating envelope, which includes a three-dimensional meshwork of filaments composed of glycoproteins (called zp proteins). growing evidence has unveiled the molecular nature of zp proteins; however, the structural property conferring fertilization competence to the egg-coating envelope remains unknown. here, we show the molecular mechanism that mediates direct interaction between dicalcin, a novel fertilization-suppres ...	2015	26243547
astrocytes phagocytose focal dystrophies from shortening myelin segments in the optic nerve of xenopus laevis at metamorphosis.	oligodendrocytes can adapt to increases in axon diameter through the addition of membrane wraps to myelin segments. here, we report that myelin segments can also decrease their length in response to optic nerve (on) shortening during xenopus laevis metamorphic remodeling. em-based analyses revealed that myelin segment shortening is accomplished by focal myelin-axon detachments and protrusions from otherwise intact myelin segments. astrocyte processes remove these focal myelin dystrophies using k ...	2015	26240339
kinesin family 17 (osmotic avoidance abnormal-3) is dispensable for photoreceptor morphology and function.	in caenorhabditis elegans, homodimeric [kinesin family (kif) 17, osmotic avoidance abnormal-3 (osm-3)] and heterotrimeric (kif3) kinesin-2 motors are required to establish sensory cilia by intraflagellar transport (ift) where kif3 and kif17 cooperate to build the axoneme core and kif17 builds the distal segments. however, the function of kif17 in vertebrates is unresolved. we expressed full-length and motorless kif17 constructs in mouse rod photoreceptors using adeno-associated virus in xenopus ...	2015	26229057
do nanoparticle physico-chemical properties and developmental exposure window influence nano zno embryotoxicity in xenopus laevis?	the growing global production of zinc oxide nanoparticles (znonps) suggests a realistic increase in the environmental exposure to such a nanomaterial, making the knowledge of its biological reactivity and its safe-by-design synthesis mandatory. in this study, the embryotoxicity of znonps (1-100 mg/l) specifically synthesized for industrial purposes with different sizes, shapes (round, rod) and surface coatings (peg, pvp) was tested using the frog embryo teratogenesis assay-xenopus (fetax) to ide ...	2015	26225989
rhodopsin forms nanodomains in rod outer segment disc membranes of the cold-blooded xenopus laevis.	rhodopsin forms nanoscale domains (i.e., nanodomains) in rod outer segment disc membranes from mammalian species. it is unclear whether rhodopsin arranges in a similar manner in amphibian species, which are often used as a model system to investigate the function of rhodopsin and the structure of photoreceptor cells. moreover, since samples are routinely prepared at low temperatures, it is unclear whether lipid phase separation effects in the membrane promote the observed nanodomain organization ...	2015	26492040