Reproductive biology: direct delivery of costly sex peptides.
Research on seminal fluid proteins is providing fundamental insights into the interactive evolution of male and female reproductive strategies. Two new studies demonstrate, first, how an influential male sex peptide in Drosophila is delivered to the female bound directly onto sperm cells, and second, that its subsequent release has significant reproductive costs for females.
Gage
Matthew J G
MJ
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. m.gage@uea.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C489175:Mst57Dc protein, Drosophila; D010455:Peptides