Characterization of regeneration initiating cells during Xenopus laevis tail regeneration [bulk RNA-Seq 1]
In this experiment, we revealed the critical steps for regeneration initiation. We discovered Regeneration Initiating Cells (RICs) using single cell and spatial transcriptomics of the regenerating Xenopus laevis tail. RICs are formed transiently from the basal epidermal cells and are critical for the modification of the surrounding extracellular matrix to allow for migration of other cell types that promote regeneration. Absence or deregulation of RICs leads to excessive extracellular matrix deposition and regeneration defects. Overall design: Bulk RNA-Seq analysis was done to analyze the temporal changes in gene expression during the regeneration periods of 0, 0.5, 1.5, 3, 6 hpa and 1, 3, 7 dpa.