Anterior-Posterior Rotation Transcriptome RNA-Sequencing Analysis of X. laevis

To analyze the limits of embryo robustness, several different types of surgeries were performed on the anterior-posterior neural axis of Xenopus laevis embryos. Our RNA-Seq data suggests a model in which aspects of early neural plasticity are associated with unique pathways and their associated genes. The transcriptome analysis reveals several combinations of pathways and genes that incorporate and heal foreign tissue, but also re-pattern the anterior-posterior axis. Maintaining plasticity in the transplants was correlated with expression of neuronal transcription factors, chromatin modifiers, Wnt signaling, calcium signaling, and pattern recognition molecules and pathways. In addition to identifying gene pathways involved in plasticity, the complexity and number of comparisons has necessitated a comparative gene approach and analysis of the RNA-Seq data. Several unique genes and pathways were discovered which support their important role in neural axis repatterning. Overall design: RNA-Seq data of sequenced X.laevis embryos with varying surgeries and an accompanying sibling control