The sex-peptide.
Injection of a peptide of 36 amino acids into virgin Drosophila females changes their reproductive properties drastically: males are rejected and egg laying is increased. The neuronal and physiological properties of the virgin state are replaced by a new pattern of behavior and stimulation of egg production and deposition. Under natural conditions, the peptide is synthesized by the male and transferred into the female during copulation. The sex-peptide, therefore, can be considered as a pheromone. In this review, I shall limit my discussion to Drosophila melanogaster.
Kubli
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E
Zoologisches Institut, Universität Zürich-Irchel, Switzerland.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003307:Copulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C489177:Acp36DE protein, Drosophila; C056736:SP protein, Drosophila