Variation in sex peptide expression in D. melanogaster.
Male Drosophila melanogaster transfers many accessory-gland proteins to females during copulation. Sex peptide (SP) is one of these and one of its main effects is to decrease female remating propensity. To date, there has been no investigation of genetic variation in SP-gene expression levels, or if such potential variation directly influences female remating behaviour. We assessed both these possibilities and found significant variation in expression levels of the SP gene across D. melanogaster isolines. A non-linear association between SP expression levels and female remating delay suggestive of disruptive selection on expression levels was also documented. Finally, while some isolines were infected with the endosymbiont Wolbachia, no association between Wolbachia and SP expression level was found.
Smith
D T
DT
Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.
Hosken
D J
DJ
Ffrench-Constant
R H
RH
Wedell
N
N
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D014644:Genetic Variation; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013045:Species Specificity; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C056736:SP protein, Drosophila; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins