Responses to DNA damage in Xenopus: cell death or cell cycle arrest.
Xenopus embryos divide rapidly following fertilization. During this rapid period of cleavage, cell divisions are not sensitive to DNA replication or spindle assembly inhibition. Here, we have investigated the consequences of eliciting DNA damage in these embryos. We show that the rapid cell divisions are not affected by DNA damage. However, as the embryos reach the onset of gastrulation, they undergo rapid and synchronous apoptosis. We have investigated the regulation on this delayed apoptotic response to DNA damage. Next, we have reconstituted a DNA damage cell cycle checkpoint in vitro, demonstrating that all the checkpoint signalling components are present in the embryos but are not activated under the experimental conditions used to generate DNA damage in the embryo.
Greenwood
J
J
Department of Genetics and Development and Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Costanzo
V
V
Robertson
K
K
Hensey
C
C
Gautier
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D018816:Genes, cdc; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015053:Zygote / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins