title: Probing the function of Drosophila melanogaster accessory glands by directed cell ablation.
abstract: The female Drosophila melanogaster fly undergoes behavioral changes after mating, including an increase in egg laying and an avoidance of remating. Accessory-gland products elicit these changes transiently when introduced into unmated female flies. We report here the generation and phenotype of flies that lack functional accessory-gland main cells as a consequence of genetically directed delivery of diphtheria toxin subunit A to those cells. Only main-cell secretions are essential for the short-term inhibition to remating; no other products of the genital tract can replace their function. Long-term inhibition to remating depends only on the storage of sperm in the female. Both sperm and main-cell secretions have roles in the increase of egg laying by the mated female. In addition to full-strength diphtheria toxin, we used low-activity toxins to kill only those cells that express toxin at high levels. These transgenic strains that express diphtheria toxins of different strengths in accessory-gland main cells will be useful in further defining the role of these cells.
authors.affiliation: Section of Genetics and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2703.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kalb
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: DiBenedetto
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wolfner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004167:Diphtheria Toxin