A Drosophila male pheromone affects female sexual receptivity.
Sex pheromones are chemical signals frequently required for mate choice, but their reciprocal role on mate preference has rarely been shown in both sexes. In Drosophila melanogaster flies, the predominant cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs) are sexually dimorphic: only females produce 7,11-dienes, whereas 7-tricosene (7-T) is the principal male CH. Males generally prefer females with 7,11-dienes, but the role of 7-T on female behaviour remains unclear. With perfumed males, control females mated faster and more often with males carrying increased levels of 7-T showing that this CH acts as a chemical stimulant for D. melanogaster females. Control females-but not antenna-less females-could detect small variation of 7-T. Finally, our finding that desat1 mutant female showed altered response towards 7-T provides an additional role for this gene which affects the production and the perception of pheromones involved in mate choice, in both sexes.
Unité Mixte de Recherche 5548 Associée au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21 000 Dijon, France.
Micheline
M
Grillet
Laurence
L
Dartevelle
Jean-François
JF
Ferveur
D000475:Alkenes; D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D000475:Alkenes; D012724:Sex Attractants; C050395:7-tricosene