Transcriptomic profiling of Rana [Lithobates] catesbeiana back skin during natural metamorphosis

As amphibians undergo thyroid hormone (TH)-dependent metamorphosis from an aquatic tadpole to the terrestrial frog, their innate immune system must adapt to the new environment. Skin is a primary line of defense, yet this organ undergoes extensive remodelling during metamorphosis and how it responds to TH is poorly understood. We used RNA-sequencing to identify changes in Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana back skin gene expression during natural metamorphosis at four developmental stages: premetamorphic tadpoles, prometamorphic tadpoles, organisms at metamorphic climax, and froglets. PolyA mRNA strand-specific library construction and sequencing on the NovaSeq6000 platform was performed to generate 2 x 150bp paired-end RNA-seq reads (50 million reads per sample).