Larval rearing environment affects several post-copulatory traits in Drosophila melanogaster.
In Drosophila melanogaster, accessory gland proteins (Acps) that a male transfers during mating affect his reproductive success by altering the female's behaviour and physiology. To test the role of male condition in the expression of Acps, we manipulated the pre-adult environment and examined adult males for relative transcript abundance of nine Acps, and for post-copulatory traits that Acps influence. Larval culture density had no effect on any measured trait. Larval nutrient availability impacted the number of sperm transferred and stored, the male's ability to induce refractoriness in his mate, but relative transcript abundance of only a single Acp (Acp36DE). Reduced male body size due to low yeast levels affected sperm competition. Our data indicate that some female-mediated post-copulatory traits (induced refractoriness and sperm transfer and storage) might be influenced by the male's developmental environment, but relative expression of most Acps and some traits they influence (P1') are not.
McGraw
Lisa A
LA
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. lmcgraw@emory.edu
Fiumera
Anthony C
AC
Ramakrishnan
Meera
M
Madhavarapu
Swetha
S
Clark
Andrew G
AG
Wolfner
Mariana F
MF
D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods; D003307:Copulation; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Heredity (Edinb). 2002 Feb;88(2):85-93
11932766
Curr Biol. 2006 Apr 4;16(7):R256-7
16581504
J Evol Biol. 2007 Jan;20(1):381-91
17210031
Evolution. 1989 Jan;43(1):223-225
28568501
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2003 Aug;60(8):1689-704
14504657
J Exp Biol. 2003 Oct;206(Pt 19):3521-8
12939382
Dev Biol. 2003 Apr 15;256(2):195-211
12679097
Genetics. 2005 Jan;169(1):243-57
15466425