title: Deletions in the desaturase2 gene in Israeli populations of Drosophila melanogaster: possible role in mate recognition.
abstract: Molecular analysis of the desaturase2 (desat2) gene responsible for female cuticular hydrocarbon synthesis, revealed that all tested Israeli populations of Drosophila melanogaster belong to the 'Low' type (low ratio of 5,9-/7,11-heptacosadiene) with a 16 bp deletion in the promoter region. Additional deletion leading to the appearance of the stop-codon TGA was found in exon 1 in populations inhabiting opposite slopes at Nahal Oren canyon. Mating experiments between carriers of various desat2 alleles estimated the putative effect of desat2 status on courtship behaviour. The allele with an additional deletion in exon 1 seems to play some role in mating success, which is associated with shorter courtship latency and courtship duration. The appearance and maintenance of this mutant allele in populations inhabiting Nahal Oren canyon may reflect flies' adaptation to peculiar microscale climatic conditions and may be associated with incipient sympatric differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution, Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science and Science Education, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zamorzaeva
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rashkovetsky
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nevo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017384:Sequence Deletion / Q000235:genetics*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C499595:desat2 protein, Drosophila