Award Date
5-1-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences
Department
School of Life Sciences
First Committee Member
Kelly Tseng
Second Committee Member
Andrew Andres
Third Committee Member
Boo Shan Tseng
Fourth Committee Member
Mo Weng
Fifth Committee Member
Hui Zhang
Number of Pages
205
Abstract
The African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, has been an indispensable model organism for over 100 years in the study of embryogenesis and development. In recent years, this vertebrate model has emerged as a robust tool for deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying various modes of tissue, limb, and organ regeneration. In the context of eye repair, Xenopus offers a unique model, where the adult frog eye has limited regenerative capacity compared to its pre-metamorphic embryonic and tadpole forms, which exhibit a robust capacity for regrowth. Understanding the intricate molecular mechanisms that underlie this developmental shift in regrowth ability has the potential to inform our efforts to develop future directed regenerative therapies for eye regrowth. However, to reach this point, a crucial first step of identifying the participating cell populations and intrinsic regenerative strategies used by Xenopus must be decoded. To this end, we have developed a lineage tracing protocol with EosFP, enabling precise labeling of cells within Xenopus laevis throughout its developmental stages. This method, now adapted for use in studying Xenopus eye development, has broadened our knowledge of the internal dynamics of multipotent retinal stem cells within the developing eye, a task not yet achieved with previous labeling technologies. This approach allowed for the labeling of select cells within the eye field through embryonic development, revealing that retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) proliferate and differentiate within their region of origin in the eye field to form the subsequent mature anatomy of the retina. Furthermore, by photoconverting Eos protein in the eye field and subsequently removing the labeled optic vesicle, we have shown that RPCs within the post-surgical wound serve as a source of regenerative cells for the embryonic Xenopus eye. Surprisingly, our results also suggest that cells within the optic fissure of the regenerating eye might originate from a non-RPC lineage. This work advances our understanding of eye development and regeneration in Xenopus, while providing a powerful new tool for future research. By deciphering the natural regenerative strategies employed by Xenopus, we open the door for facilitating directed therapies that mirror proven natural regrowth processes.
Keywords
EosFP; Eye Development; Eye Field; Eye Regeneration; Eye Regrowth; Retinal Progenitor Cells
Disciplines
Biology | Cell Biology | Molecular Biology
File Format
File Size
3929 KB
Degree Grantor
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Language
English
Repository Citation
Grell, Randolph L., "Cellular Mechanisms of Embryonic Eye Regrowth in Xenopus Laevis" (2024). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 5154.
http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/37741253
Rights
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