Microinjection of Live Drosophila Embryos: Early Delivery of Reagents to the Developing Embryo

Abstract

Source: Brust-Mascher, I., Scholey, J. M. Microinjection Techniques for Studying Mitosis in the Drosophila melanogaster Syncytial Embryo. J. Vis. Exp. (2009).

This video describes how to perform microinjections that deliver reagents into live Drosophila embryos. Researchers can use this method to introduce exogenous compounds like nucleic acids and proteins during the early stages of embryo development. The featured protocol demonstrates how to set up and perform the procedure for injection of any soluble reagent–here, a fluorescent protein for live imaging experiments.

Protocol

This protocol is an excerpt from Brust-Mascher and Scholey, Microinjection Techniques for Studying Mitosis in the Drosophila melanogaster Syncytial Embryo, J. Vis. Exp. (2009).

Recipes:

Grape Juice plates:

• 5.5g bacto agar

• 14.5 g dextrose or glucose

• 7.15 g sucrose

• 45 ml grape juice concentrate (100% juice).

• 204.5 ml H₂0

• 625 μl 10N NaOH