Regulation of behavioral and pheromonal aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster by the Sex-lethal gene.
We have shown that the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene, which controls morphological aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster, also regulates sexual behavior. Chromosomal males that are hemizygous for a deletion of the entire Sxl locus perform normal courtship and synthesize the two courtship-inhibiting pheromones that normal males make. However, ectopic expression of female-specific Sex-lethal gene products drastically alters chromosomal males' ability to perform and elicit courtship and increases the probability that they will synthesize a courtship-stimulating pheromone or fail to synthesize one of the inhibitory pheromones. These observations suggest that male sexual behavior is a consequence of the Sxl gene's being functionally inactive in haplo-X flies.
Tompkins
L
L
Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122.
McRobert
S P
SP
D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation; D003380:Courtship; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D010675:Pheromones; D012724:Sex Attractants