Function of the quick-to-court gene in regulation of sexual behavior of Drosophila melanogaster
The quick-to-court (qtc) gene was shown to regulate several parameters of sexual activity of fly males. This gene is expressing in males and females in a head and in abdomen segments that associated with reproductive system. The males having mutated qtc, when placed in the presence of virgin females, begin courtship abnormally quickly. In addition, the number of male-male courtship was markedly increased presumably to the enhanced sexual activity of males. The effects caused by qtc mutations were selective because many other characteristics of sexual behavior of males remain unchanged. Molecular pathways of qtc remain unknown. Several mature forms of qtc mRNA were produced by alternative splicing. In this project, we investigate differences in the composition of splice variants in males and females. . The project should provide new original data about genetic regulation of sexual behavior of Drosophila melanogaster.