Xenbase v4.4

Xenbase launched 4 new features (June 2017, Xenbase v 4.4).

1. NEW Interactive RNA-seq temporal expression graphs for trop and laevis.

2. View the latest ‘Xenopus Research Articles’

3. NEW Interactive gene-interaction visualization.

4. Xenopus Article Page, now includes a list of references cited in the paper.

8th International Course on Developmental Biology

This course is to provides participants with comprehensive coverage of paradigms, problems and technologies of modern Developmental Biology with a particular attention to stem cells.

Workshop: September 18-October 7, 2017/ Seminars: October 9-20, 2017.

Paris, France

miR-182 Regulates Slit2-Mediated Axon Guidance by Modulating the Local Translation of a Specific mRNA

Bellon et al. published in Cell Reports the role of microRNAs in mRNA-specific translation during axonal pathfinding of Xenopus laevis retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). They found that miR-182 targets cofilin-1 mRNA, silencing its translation. Slit2 rapidly relieves this repression without causing miR-182 degradation. Their data support a model where miR-182 reversibly gates the selection of certain mRNAs for fast translation depending on extrinsic cues.

Leftward Flow Determines Laterality in Conjoined Twins

Tisler et al. published in Current Biology their study of an enigmatic left-right defect in conjoined twins. Twins fused at the thorax: left twins are normal, laterality is disturbed in one-half of right twins due to insufficient suppression of the Nodal inhibitor, dand5.

Gene Regulatory Networks White Paper 2016

A “final” draft of the GRN white paper is in the works, but several people request that the current working white paper draft be made publicly available.

This would allow everyone to refer to the white paper in grants or manuscripts. The GRN White Paper draft will be hosted on Xenbase.

This current draft will eventually be replaced with the final 2016 version.

Click here to download the draft of the GRN White Paper.

GO: Gene Ontology terms on Xenbase

Expanded representation of Gene Ontology (GO) terms associated with gene product function added to Xenopus gene pages.

Look for the tab on gene summary pages...

Genesis Special Issue - Xenopus: Advances and Emerging Technologies

Check out the January 2017 issue of Genesis highlighting current advances using Xenopus as a biomedical research model.

Genome evolution in the allotetraploid frog Xenopus laevis

Session et al. published in Nature describe the analysis of the subgenomes of the allotetraploid Xenopus laevis. The L subgenome more consistenly resembles the ancestral condition and the S subgenome is more disrupted by deletion and rearrangment.

Updated Xenopus laevis genome annotation

Gene Model Annotation 1.8.3 of the X. laevis 9.1 Genome Build

The latest annotation of the X. laevis 9.1 genome is ready!  

This release only includes updating the gene symbol of existing gene models.  

The files for this annotation release, GFFs and FASTA, can be downloaded from the Xenbase FTP page, under the X. laevis genome assemblies and gene models category.

2016 Xenopus White Paper

Representatives of the research community have released the 2016 Xenopus White Paper summarizing strategic resource development.

Download: Word Doc, PDF

PIs: Please reference the White Paper in your NIH grant proposals and contact your program officers.

Xenbase v4.4

Xenbase launched 4 new features (June 2017, Xenbase v 4.4).

1. NEW Interactive RNA-seq temporal expression graphs for trop and laevis.

2. View the latest ‘Xenopus Research Articles’

3. NEW Interactive gene-interaction visualization.

4. Xenopus Article Page, now includes a list of references cited in the paper.