In vitro translation extracts prepared from Drosophila ovaries and embryos

Translational regulation has emerged as an important feature of animal deve lopment, especially in the embryo prior to the onset of zygotic transcripti on. Specialized forms of control regulate the translation of individual mRN As, and the factors involved in these mRNA-specific events are expected to be found in only a subset of all tissues. Consequently, homologous in vitro translation systems, prepared from tissues in which important regulatory e vents occur, are likely to be required to pursue biochemical studies of the underlying mechanisms. Here we describe the characterization of extracts p repared from Drosophila ovaries and embryos that support translation of exo genous reporter mRNAs in vitro, These in vitro systems should prove to be u seful in dissecting mechanisms of the numerous translational control events shown to occur during the early stages of Drosophila development. (C) 2000 Academic Press.