RNA-Seq of Xenopus tail regeneration

In contrast to humans, many amphibians are able to rapidly and completely regenerate complex tissues, including complete appendages. Following tail amputation, Xenopus tropicalis tadpoles quickly regenerate muscle, spinal cord, cartilage, vasculature and skin, all properly patterned in three dimensions. To better understand the molecular basis of this regenerative competence, we performed a transcriptional analysis of regeneration using RNA-Seq. We profiled the transcriptome at 6 timepoints during tail regeneration, and used clustering analysis to identify biological processes that are prioritized during different transitions in the regeneration process. Our work expands significantly on previous expression analyses of tail regeneration. We are able to refine the windows during which many key biological signaling processes act, including embryonic patterning signals, immune responses, bioelectrical signaling and apoptosis. By including multiple timepoints within the first 24 hours post-amputation, we have also identified new processes that are highly prioritized early in regeneration, including axonogenesis, chemotaxis, and RNA metabolism. Our work provides a deep database for researchers interested in appendage regeneration, and highlights new avenues for further study.