title: The Xenopus cell cycle: an overview.
abstract: Oocytes, eggs, and embryos from the frog Xenopus laevis have been an important model system for studying cell cycle regulation for several decades. First, progression through meiosis in the oocyte has been extensively investigated. Oocyte maturation has been shown to involve complex networks of signal transduction pathways, culminating in the cyclic activation and inactivation of maturation promoting factor (MPF), which is composed of cyclin B and cdc2. After fertilization, the early embryo undergoes rapid simplified cell cycles, which have been recapitulated in cell-free extracts of Xenopus eggs. Experimental manipulation of these extracts has given a wealth of biochemical information about the cell cycle, particularly concerning DNA replication and mitosis. Finally, cells of older embryos adopt a more somatic-type cell cycle and have been used to study the balance between cell cycle and differentiation during development.
authors.affiliation: Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philpott
authors.forename: P Renee
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Yew
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins