title: Genetic variation in the Yolk protein expression network of Drosophila melanogaster: sex-biased negative correlations with longevity.
abstract: One of the persistent problems in biology is understanding how genetic variation contributes to phenotypic variation. Associations at many levels have been reported, and yet causal inference has remained elusive. We propose to rely on the knowledge of causal relationships established by molecular biology approaches. The existing molecular knowledge forms a firm backbone upon which hypotheses connecting genetic variation, transcriptional variation and phenotypic variation can be built. The sex determination pathway is a well-established molecular network, with the Yolk protein 1-3 (Yp) genes as the most downstream target. Our analyses reveal that genetic variation in expression for genes known to be upstream in the pathway explains variation in downstream targets. Relationships differ between the two sexes, and each Yp has a distinct transcriptional pattern. Yp expression is significantly negatively correlated with longevity, an important life history trait, for both males and females.
authors: Department of Molecular and Computation Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. amtarone@ag.tamu.edu
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Tarone
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: McIntyre
authors: L G
authors: LG
authors: Harshman
authors: S V
authors: SV
authors: Nuzhdin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D049490:Systems Biology; D059467:Transcriptome; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins; D014819:Vitellogenins; C105973:YP1 protein, Drosophila; C070799:YP3 protein, Drosophila; C101545:yolk protein 2, Drosophila