Research

How do anuran amphibians transform from tadpoles into frogs? This transformation is called “metamorphosis”. During metamorphosis, essentially every organ/tissue undergoes morphological as well as functional changes such as de novo development of the limbs, regression of the tail and gills, replacement of larval red blood cells by adult ones, remodeling of the gastrointestinal tract, etc. I am interested in the underlying mechanisms of these changes. In the current study, I’m focusing on the intestinal remodeling during metamorphosis of African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Although it is well known that thyroid hormone (TH) triggers metamorphosis, the precise mechanisms of this hormonal control are not fully understood. There have been many genes identified as TH response genes such as sonic hedgehog (Shh), bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and so on. To study the role of these genes in vivo, I am investigating their functions by using transgenesis as an approach. I hope to elucidate the molecular basis of amphibian metamorphosis.