Specific control of messenger translation in Drosophila oocytes and embryos

The distribution of messenger RNA between polysomes and mRNP in oocytes and embryos of Drosophila melanogaster has been studied by in vitro translational analysis. Poly(A) + RNA was purified from polysomes or mRNA from mature oocytes and young embryos. The messenger populations were translated in vitro and the peptides synthesized were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Analysis of the 2D gel patterns enabled the detection of three peptides coded by messengers present predominantly in the mRNA pools of mature oocytes. When DNA-binding peptides were selected from the in vitro translation products, they showed, after separation by two-dimensional electrophoresis, less than 100 spots. The analysis of the 2D gels indicated that three DNA-binding peptides are coded by messengers present only in the mRNP of the oocytes. These messengers are later found in the polysomal fraction of embryos.