Spatial-temporal analysis of metabolite expression in Xenopuslaevisembryos during early development

摘要

Xenopus laevisis an important biological model studied ubiquitously in developmental biology in order to further understand early embryonic development. Metabolomics is a growing field which allows us to probe expression changes during key biological events. These molecules provide us insight on the mechanisms regulating biomolecules during early development. We employ Capillary Zone Electrophoresis-Electrospray Ionization coupled to mass spectrometry (CZE-ESI-MS) to study small molecule and lipid expression during four stages of Xenopus development. Preliminary results agree with key biological events we observed an increase of metabolites at stage 8, 13 and 25. During stage 25 early organogenesis begins causing the large increase of new metabolites expressed as differentiation occurs.