Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila melanogaster Associated With Variation in Male Reproductive Proteins

Fiumera, Anthony C.; Dumont, Bethany L.; Clark, Andrew G.

doi:10.1534/genetics.104.032870

Cited by 175 publications

(267 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Further, our results also suggest that LTR candidates listed here, particularly the rapidly evolving ones, may be useful targets for genetic association studies in Drosophila (37). Despite the conservation of SP and its receptor across Drosophila [and beyond in the case of the receptor (21)], outbred males show genetic variation in their defensive sperm competitive abilities and in their ability to cause female refractoriness to remating (38,39). Therefore, studying whether these phenotypic differ- ences are attributable to LTR candidates mediating SP's functions in mated females will be interesting.…”

Section: Model For Acp Interactions That Establish the Long-term Respmentioning

confidence: 99%

A network of interactions among seminal proteins underlies the long-term postmating response in Drosophila

Ram

Wolfner

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

153

197

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Despite the importance of seminal proteins in fertility and their capacity to alter mated females' physiology, the molecular pathways and networks through which they act have not been well characterized. Drosophila seminal fluid includes proteins that fall into biochemical classes conserved from insects to mammals, making it an excellent model with which to address this question. Drosophila seminal fluid also contains a ''sex peptide'' (SP, Acp70A) that plays a major role in regulating egg production and mating behavior in females for several days after mating. This long-term postmating response (LTR) initially requires the association of SP with sperm. The LTR also requires members of the conserved seminal protein classes (two lectins, a protease, and a cysteine-rich secretory protein). Here, we show that these seminal proteins function interdependently, regulating a three-step cascade (first, at the level of seminal protein transfer to the female; second, at the level of stability; and third, at the level of localization within females), leading to the normal localization of SP to sperm-storage organs. This localization is, in turn, necessary for successful induction of the LTR. The requirements for manifestation of the LTR in Drosophila establish the paradigm that multiple seminal proteins can exert their actions through a multistep, multicomponent network of interactions.mating response ͉ reproduction ͉ sperm ͉ sperm storage ͉ seminal fluid

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Section: Model For Acp Interactions That Establish the Long-term Respmentioning

confidence: 99%

A network of interactions among seminal proteins underlies the long-term postmating response in Drosophila

Ram

Wolfner

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

153

197

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“…In polyandrous species, seminal proteins play a key role in postmating sexual selection ( Fiumera et al 2005). Postcopulatory competition for the fertilization of female eggs (sperm competition and selective fertilization) may lead to rapid coevolution between seminal proteins (those transferred from males to females during copulation) and proteins of the female reproductive tract.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Searching for candidate speciation genes using a proteomic approach: seminal proteins in field crickets

2008

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In many animals, male seminal proteins influence gamete interactions and fertilization ability and are probably involved in barriers to gene flow between diverging lineages. Here we use a proteomic approach to identify seminal proteins that are transferred to females during copulation and that may be involved in fertilization barriers between two hybridizing field crickets ( Gryllus firmus and Gryllus pennsylvanicus ). Analyses of patterns of divergence suggest that much of the field cricket genome has remained undifferentiated following the evolution of reproductive isolation. By contrast, seminal protein genes are highly differentiated. Tests of selection reveal that positive selection is likely to be responsible for patterns of differentiation. Together, our observations suggest that some of the loci encoding seminal proteins may indeed play a role in fertilization barriers in field crickets.

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“…Postcopulatory ornaments and armaments thus predominantly include single active molecules such as accessory gland proteins (Acps) that are controlled by single genes (10,11) and traits borne by haploid single cells [e.g., sperm structures, membrane-bound proteins, energetics (12,13)]. The genetics of these traits are relatively unresolved (12,(14)(15)(16)(17). The primary targets of postcopulatory sexual selection on females will be aspects of reproductive tract biochemistry, neurophysiology, and morphology that interact with ejaculates and potentially bias paternity (5,(18)(19)(20)(21).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Female mediation of competitive fertilization success in Drosophila melanogaster

Lüpold

Pitnick

Berben

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

117

183

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How females store and use sperm after remating can generate postcopulatory sexual selection on male ejaculate traits. Variation in ejaculate performance traits generally is thought to be intrinsic to males but is likely to interact with the environment in which sperm compete (e.g., the female reproductive tract). Our understanding of female contributions to competitive fertilization success is limited, however, in part because of the challenges involved in observing events within the reproductive tract of internally fertilizing species while discriminating among sperm from competing males. Here, we used females from crosses among isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster, each mated to two genetically standardized males (the first with green-and the second with red-tagged sperm heads) to demonstrate heritable variation in female remating interval, progeny production rate, sperm-storage organ morphology, and a number of sperm performance, storage, and handling traits. We then used multivariate analyses to examine relationships between this female-mediated variation and competitive paternity. In particular, the timing of female ejection of excess second-male and displaced first-male sperm was genetically variable and, by terminating the process of sperm displacement, significantly influenced the relative numbers of sperm from each male competing for fertilization, and consequently biased paternity. Our results demonstrate that females do not simply provide a static arena for sperm competition but rather play an active and pivotal role in postcopulatory processes. Resolving the adaptive significance of genetic variation in female-mediated mechanisms of sperm handling is critical for understanding sexual selection, sexual conflict, and the coevolution of male and female reproductive traits.cryptic female choice | heritability | sperm ejection

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Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila melanogaster Associated With Variation in Male Reproductive Proteins

Cited by 175 publications

References 86 publications

A network of interactions among seminal proteins underlies the long-term postmating response in Drosophila

A network of interactions among seminal proteins underlies the long-term postmating response in Drosophila

Searching for candidate speciation genes using a proteomic approach: seminal proteins in field crickets

Female mediation of competitive fertilization success in Drosophila melanogaster

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