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Rewiring Endogenous Bioelectric Circuits in the Xenopus laevis Embryo Model

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Programmed Morphogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2258))

Abstract

Embryogenesis, as well as regeneration, is increasingly recognized to be orchestrated by an interplay of transcriptional and bioelectric networks. Spatiotemporal patterns of resting potentials direct the size, shape, and locations of numerous organ primordia during patterning. These bioelectrical properties are established by the function of ion channels and pumps that set voltage potentials of individual cells, and gap junctions (electrical synapses) that enable physiological states to propagate across tissue networks. Functional experiments to probe the roles of bioelectrical states can be carried out by targeting endogenous ion channels during development. Here, we describe protocols, optimized for the highly tractable Xenopus laevis embryo, for molecular genetic targeting of ion channels and connexins based on CRISPR, and monitoring of resting potential states using voltage-sensing fluorescent dye. Similar strategies can be adapted to other model species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, and Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA

    Vasilios Nanos & Michael Levin

Authors
  1. Vasilios Nanos
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  2. Michael Levin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Levin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Bioengineering Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Mo R. Ebrahimkhani

  2. Department of Bioengineering Swanson School of Engineering, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Joshua Hislop

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© 2021 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

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Nanos, V., Levin, M. (2021). Rewiring Endogenous Bioelectric Circuits in the Xenopus laevis Embryo Model. In: Ebrahimkhani, M.R., Hislop, J. (eds) Programmed Morphogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2258. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1174-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1174-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1173-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1174-6

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