Protocol for culturing and imaging of ectodermal cells from Xenopus

Nydia Tejeda-Muñoz; Julia Monka; Edward M De Robertis

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101455

Protocol for culturing and imaging of ectodermal cells from Xenopus

STAR Protoc. 2022 Sep 16;3(3):101455. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101455. Epub 2022 Jul 14.

Authors

Nydia Tejeda-Muñoz¹, Julia Monka², Edward M De Robertis²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1662, USA. Electronic address: ntejedamunoz@mednet.ucla.edu.
² Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1662, USA.

Abstract

The Xenopus embryo provides an advantageous model system where genes can be readily transplanted as DNA or mRNA or depleted with antisense techniques. Here, we present a protocol to culture and image the cell biological properties of explanted Xenopus cap cells in tissue culture. We illustrate how this protocol can be applied to visualize lysosomes, macropinocytosis, focal adhesions, Wnt signaling, and cell migration. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Tejeda-Muñoz et al. (2022).

Keywords: Cell Biology; Cell culture; Developmental biology; Microscopy; Model Organisms; Signal Transduction.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Animals
Blotting, Western
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Wnt Signaling Pathway*
Xenopus Proteins* / genetics
Xenopus laevis / genetics

Substances

RNA, Messenger
Xenopus Proteins

Grants and funding

P30 CA016042/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States