title: Generic sample from Drosophila melanogaster
organism: Drosophila melanogaster
description: Heads were dissected by vigorous shaking in liquid nitrogen in a metal sieve, as described in Seitz et al. (Curr. Biol. 18:147-151 (2008)). Total RNA was extracted using the mirVana kit (Ambion), then short (18-29 nt) RNAs were gel-purified. 2S rRNA was depleted as described in Seitz et al. (Curr. Biol. 18:147-151 (2008)). When applicable: small RNA preparations were oxidized with periodate in the presence of boric acid as described in Horwich et al. (2007) Curr. Biol. 17(14):1265-1272, except the final (alkaline) step was omitted. hen1^f00810 mutant strain (described in Horwich et al., 2007, Curr. Biol. 17: 1265)