ABSTRACT
All biological properties are orchestrated by cohorts of molecules that operate together within a biological system through functional interactions. Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) are responsible for the control of gene expression throughout the genome. In order to achieve a causal explanation for biological actions, it is essential to understand the control of genome activity at the GRN level. GRNs are networks of regulatory interactions (inputs) between transcription factors and signaling molecules that control downstream gene expression (outputs). GRNs are often depicted as logic maps that state the inputs into each cis-regulatory module of target genes so that one can see how a given gene is activated or repressed at a given time and place, providing insights into the biological framework regulating cellular states during development and diseased states. GRN study goes beyond the acquisition of largely descriptive data and cataloging gene expression. Specific linkages between transcription factors and regulatory regions of downstream target genes constituting GRNs provide causal linkages and testable sets of hypotheses about gene functions. A well-constructed GRN also has the power to predict specific phenotypic outcomes. This chapter describes the current status of GRNs studied in Xenopus and discusses the future of GRN research.
