ABSTRACT
Xenopus frogs are well-established models for the study of numerous vertebrate biological processes, including chromosome dynamics, embryonic cell differentiation and migration, and tissue regeneration. Despite significant efforts and accomplishments by us and others in these fields, Xenopus have not (so far) yielded their full potential. In this chapter, we provide a perspective on the proteomics and phospho-proteomics methods used to characterize systems-level cell biology in Xenopus embryos. We identify significant obstacles in current methodologies, consider emerging opportunities and challenges that Xenopus research presents to proteomics-based approaches, and provide guidance on standard procedures and best practice for future studies. We identify gaps in our knowledge, propose attractive new directions, and anticipate future successes. We also consider how recent developments in single-cell transcriptomics and CRISPR gene editing complement proteomics-based approaches for unlocking the full potential of Xenopus in the discovery of systems-level cell biological principles and the advancement of human health.
