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The Xenopus Cell Cycle: An Overview

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Abstract

Oocytes, eggs and embryos from the frog Xenopus laevis have been an important model system for studying cell-cycle regulation for several decades. First, progression through meiosis in the oocyte has been extensively investigated. Oocyte maturation has been shown to involve complex networks of signal transduction pathways, culminating in the cyclic activation and inactivation of Maturation Promoting Factor (MPF), composed of cyclin B and cdc2. After fertilisation, the early embryo undergoes rapid simplified cell cycles which have been recapitulated in cell-free extracts of Xenopus eggs. Experimental manipulation of these extracts has given a wealth of biochemical information about the cell cycle, particularly concerning DNA replication and mitosis. Finally, cells of older embryos adopt a more somatic-type cell cycle and have been used to study the balance between cell cycle and differentiation during development.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Anna Git for helpful reading of the manuscript. A.P. is supported by the Medical Research Council (G050010), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/C004108/1). P.R.Y is supported by the National Institutes of Health (GM066226).

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  1. Department of Oncology, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XZ, England

    Anna Philpott

  2. Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78245-3207, USA

    P. Renee Yew

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  1. Anna Philpott
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Correspondence to Anna Philpott.

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Philpott, A., Yew, P.R. The Xenopus Cell Cycle: An Overview. Mol Biotechnol 39, 9–19 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-008-9033-z

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