Characterization of a novel Xenopus tropicalis cell line as a model for in vitro studies

Ludivine Sinzelle (1) , Raphaël Thuret (2) , Ho-Yon Hwang (3) , Bérénice Herszberg (1) , Elodie Paillard (1) , Odile J. Bronchain (1, 4) , Derek L. Stemple (3) , Sophie Pollet (5, 1) , Nicolas Pollet (1)

1 ISSB - Institut de biologie systémique et synthétique
2 Faculty of Life Sciences
3 Vertebrate Development and Genetics
4 N&eD - Neurobiologie et Développement
5 GABI - Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative

Cell lines are useful tools to facilitate in vitro studies of many biological and molecular processes. We describe a new permanent fibroblast-type cell line obtained from disaggregated Xenopus tropicalis limb bud. The cell line population doubling time was _ 24 h. Its karyotype was genetically stable with a chromosome number of 2n 5 21 and a chromosome 10 trisomy. These cells could be readily transfected and expressed transgenes faithfully. We obtained stable transformants using transposon-based gene transfer technology. These cells responded to thyroid hormone and thus can provide a complementary research tool to study thyroid hormone signaling events. In conclusion, this cell line baptized ‘‘Speedy’’ should prove useful to couple in vitro and in vivo biological studies in the X. tropicalis frog model.

Mots clés: amphibian; transposon; thyroid hormone; frog

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Ludivine Sinzelle, Raphaël Thuret, Ho-Yon Hwang, Bérénice Herszberg, Elodie Paillard, et al.. Characterization of a novel Xenopus tropicalis cell line as a model for in vitro studies. Genesis, 2012, 50 (3), pp.316-324. ⟨10.1002/dvg.20822⟩. ⟨hal-01189600⟩