Metamorphosis is inhibited in transgenic Xenopus laevis tadpoles that overexpress type III deiodinase.

One of the genes that is up-regulated by thyroid hormone (TH) during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis encodes a type III deiodinase (D3) that inactivates TH. Transgenic X. laevis tadpoles overexpressing a GFP-D3 fusion protein were produced. These transgenic tadpoles had high levels of deiodinase activity and were resistant to exogenous TH added 1 week after fertilization. They developed normally throughout embryogenesis and premetamorphic stages but became retarded in their development late in prometamorphosis when endogenous TH reaches its highest level. Gill and tail resorption were delayed and most of the animals arrested and died. One tadpole completed its metamorphosis without resorbing its tail. These results demonstrate that D3 can modulate the action of TH in vivo, and document the value of the new transgenic method for functional analysis of genes involved in metamorphosis.