title: The homeodomain protein defective proventriculus is essential for male accessory gland development to enhance fecundity in Drosophila.
abstract: The Drosophila male accessory gland has functions similar to those of the mammalian prostate gland and the seminal vesicle, and secretes accessory gland proteins into the seminal fluid. Each of the two lobes of the accessory gland is composed of two types of binucleate cell: about 1,000 main cells and 40 secondary cells. A well-known accessory gland protein, sex peptide, is secreted from the main cells and induces female postmating response to increase progeny production, whereas little is known about physiological significance of the secondary cells. The homeodomain transcriptional repressor Defective proventriculus (Dve) is strongly expressed in adult secondary cells, and its mutation resulted in loss of secondary cells, mononucleation of main cells, and reduced size of the accessory gland. dve mutant males had low fecundity despite the presence of sex peptide, and failed to induce the female postmating responses of increased egg laying and reduced sexual receptivity. RNAi-mediated dve knockdown males also had low fecundity with normally binucleate main cells. We provide the first evidence that secondary cells are crucial for male fecundity, and also that Dve activity is required for survival of the secondary cells. These findings provide new insights into a mechanism of fertility/fecundity.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryunosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugimori
authors.forename: Kiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kokuryo
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imano
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adachi-Yamada
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakagoshi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C557617:GAL4 protein, Drosophila; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C489175:Mst57Dc protein, Drosophila; D010455:Peptides; D014157:Transcription Factors; C114494:dve protein, Drosophila