1
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Zhang L, Ten Hagen KG. O-Glycosylation of a male seminal fluid protein influences sperm binding and female postmating behavior. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae322. [PMID: 39189023 PMCID: PMC11346359 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Glycoproteins are abundant within the human reproductive system and alterations in glycosylation lead to reproductive disorders, suggesting that glycans play an important role in reproductive function. In this study, we used the Drosophila reproductive system as a model to investigate the biological functions of O-glycosylation. We found that O-glycosylation in the male accessory glands, an organ responsible for secreting seminal fluid proteins, plays important roles in female postmating behavior. The loss of one O-glycosyltransferase, PGANT9, in the male reproductive system resulted in decreased egg production in mated females. We identified one substrate of PGANT9, lectin-46Ca (CG1656), which is known to affect female postmating responses. We further show that the loss of lectin-46Ca O-glycosylation affects its ability to associate with sperm tails, resulting in reduced transfer within the female reproductive system. Our results provide the first example that O-glycosylation of a seminal fluid protein affects its ability to associate with sperm in vivo. These studies may shed light on the biological function of O-glycans in mammalian reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Zhang
- Developmental Glycobiology Section, NIDCR, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4370, USA
| | - Kelly G Ten Hagen
- Developmental Glycobiology Section, NIDCR, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4370, USA
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2
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Peng J, Svetec N, Molina H, Zhao L. The Origin and Evolution of Sex Peptide and Sex Peptide Receptor Interactions. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae065. [PMID: 38518286 PMCID: PMC11017328 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-mating responses play a vital role in successful reproduction across diverse species. In fruit flies, sex peptide binds to the sex peptide receptor, triggering a series of post-mating responses. However, the origin of sex peptide receptor predates the emergence of sex peptide. The evolutionary origins of the interactions between sex peptide and sex peptide receptor and the mechanisms by which they interact remain enigmatic. In this study, we used ancestral sequence reconstruction, AlphaFold2 predictions, and molecular dynamics simulations to study sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions and their origination. Using AlphaFold2 and long-time molecular dynamics simulations, we predicted the structure and dynamics of sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions. We show that sex peptide potentially binds to the ancestral states of Diptera sex peptide receptor. Notably, we found that only a few amino acid changes in sex peptide receptor are sufficient for the formation of sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions. Ancestral sequence reconstruction and molecular dynamics simulations further reveal that sex peptide receptor interacts with sex peptide through residues that are mostly involved in the interaction interface of an ancestral ligand, myoinhibitory peptides. We propose a potential mechanism whereby sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions arise from the preexisting myoinhibitory peptides-sex peptide receptor interface as well as early chance events both inside and outside the preexisting interface that created novel sex peptide-specific sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions. Our findings provide new insights into the origin and evolution of sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions and their relationship with myoinhibitory peptides-sex peptide receptor interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhui Peng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas Svetec
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Henrik Molina
- Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Zhao
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Peng J, Svetec N, Molina H, Zhao L. The Origin and Evolution of Sex Peptide and Sex Peptide Receptor Interactions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.19.567744. [PMID: 38013995 PMCID: PMC10680801 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.19.567744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Post-mating responses play a vital role in successful reproduction across diverse species. In fruit flies, sex peptide (SP) binds to the sex peptide receptor (SPR), triggering a series of post-mating responses. However, the origin of SPR predates the emergence of SP. The evolutionary origins of the interactions between SP and SPR and the mechanisms by which they interact remain enigmatic. In this study, we used ancestral sequence reconstruction, AlphaFold2 predictions, and molecular dynamics simulations to study SP-SPR interactions and their origination. Using AlphaFold2 and long-time molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we predicted the structure and dynamics of SP-SPR interactions. We show that SP potentially binds to the ancestral states of Diptera SPR. Notably, we found that only a few amino acid changes in SPR are sufficient for the formation of SP-SPR interactions. Ancestral sequence reconstruction and MD simulations further reveal that SPR interacts with SP through residues that are mostly involved in the interaction interface of an ancestral ligand, myoinhibitory peptides (MIPs). We propose a potential mechanism whereby SP-SPR interactions arise from the pre-existing MIP-SPR interface as well as early chance events both inside and outside the pre-existing interface that created novel SP-specific SP-SPR interactions. Our findings provide new insights into the origin and evolution of SP-SPR interactions and their relationship with MIP-SPR interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhui Peng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas Svetec
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Henrik Molina
- Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Li Zhao
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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4
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Hopkins BR, Angus-Henry A, Kim BY, Carlisle JA, Thompson A, Kopp A. Decoupled evolution of the Sex Peptide gene family and Sex Peptide Receptor in Drosophilidae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312380120. [PMID: 38215185 PMCID: PMC10801855 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312380120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Across internally fertilising species, males transfer ejaculate proteins that trigger wide-ranging changes in female behaviour and physiology. Much theory has been developed to explore the drivers of ejaculate protein evolution. The accelerating availability of high-quality genomes now allows us to test how these proteins are evolving at fine taxonomic scales. Here, we use genomes from 264 species to chart the evolutionary history of Sex Peptide (SP), a potent regulator of female post-mating responses in Drosophila melanogaster. We infer that SP first evolved in the Drosophilinae subfamily and has since followed markedly different evolutionary trajectories in different lineages. Outside of the Sophophora-Lordiphosa, SP exists largely as a single-copy gene with independent losses in several lineages. Within the Sophophora-Lordiphosa, the SP gene family has repeatedly and independently expanded. Up to seven copies, collectively displaying extensive sequence variation, are present in some species. Despite these changes, SP expression remains restricted to the male reproductive tract. Alongside, we document considerable interspecific variation in the presence and morphology of seminal microcarriers that, despite the critical role SP plays in microcarrier assembly in D. melanogaster, appears to be independent of changes in the presence/absence or sequence of SP. We end by providing evidence that SP's evolution is decoupled from that of its receptor, Sex Peptide Receptor, in which we detect no evidence of correlated diversifying selection. Collectively, our work describes the divergent evolutionary trajectories that a novel gene has taken following its origin and finds a surprisingly weak coevolutionary signal between a supposedly sexually antagonistic protein and its receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R. Hopkins
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Aidan Angus-Henry
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Bernard Y. Kim
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Jolie A. Carlisle
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Ammon Thompson
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
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5
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Berg C, Sieber M, Sun J. Finishing the egg. Genetics 2024; 226:iyad183. [PMID: 38000906 PMCID: PMC10763546 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Gamete development is a fundamental process that is highly conserved from early eukaryotes to mammals. As germ cells develop, they must coordinate a dynamic series of cellular processes that support growth, cell specification, patterning, the loading of maternal factors (RNAs, proteins, and nutrients), differentiation of structures to enable fertilization and ensure embryonic survival, and other processes that make a functional oocyte. To achieve these goals, germ cells integrate a complex milieu of environmental and developmental signals to produce fertilizable eggs. Over the past 50 years, Drosophila oogenesis has risen to the forefront as a system to interrogate the sophisticated mechanisms that drive oocyte development. Studies in Drosophila have defined mechanisms in germ cells that control meiosis, protect genome integrity, facilitate mRNA trafficking, and support the maternal loading of nutrients. Work in this system has provided key insights into the mechanisms that establish egg chamber polarity and patterning as well as the mechanisms that drive ovulation and egg activation. Using the power of Drosophila genetics, the field has begun to define the molecular mechanisms that coordinate environmental stresses and nutrient availability with oocyte development. Importantly, the majority of these reproductive mechanisms are highly conserved throughout evolution, and many play critical roles in the development of somatic tissues as well. In this chapter, we summarize the recent progress in several key areas that impact egg chamber development and ovulation. First, we discuss the mechanisms that drive nutrient storage and trafficking during oocyte maturation and vitellogenesis. Second, we examine the processes that regulate follicle cell patterning and how that patterning impacts the construction of the egg shell and the establishment of embryonic polarity. Finally, we examine regulatory factors that control ovulation, egg activation, and successful fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Berg
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5065USA
| | - Matthew Sieber
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390USA
| | - Jianjun Sun
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269USA
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6
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Brown NC, Gordon B, McDonough-Goldstein CE, Misra S, Findlay GD, Clark AG, Wolfner MF. The seminal odorant binding protein Obp56g is required for mating plug formation and male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. eLife 2023; 12:e86409. [PMID: 38126735 PMCID: PMC10834028 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster and other insects, the seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) and male sex pheromones that enter the female with sperm during mating are essential for fertility and induce profound post-mating effects on female physiology. The SFPs in D. melanogaster and other taxa include several members of the large gene family known as odorant binding proteins (Obps). Work in Drosophila has shown that some Obp genes are highly expressed in the antennae and can mediate behavioral responses to odorants, potentially by binding and carrying these molecules to odorant receptors. These observations have led to the hypothesis that the seminal Obps might act as molecular carriers for pheromones or other compounds important for male fertility, though functional evidence in any species is lacking. Here, we used functional genetics to test the role of the seven seminal Obps in D. melanogaster fertility and the post-mating response (PMR). We found that Obp56g is required for male fertility and the induction of the PMR, whereas the other six genes are dispensable. We found males lacking Obp56g fail to form a mating plug in the mated female's reproductive tract, leading to ejaculate loss and reduced sperm storage, likely due to its expression in the male ejaculatory bulb. We also examined the evolutionary history of these seminal Obp genes, as several studies have documented rapid evolution and turnover of SFP genes across taxa. We found extensive lability in gene copy number and evidence of positive selection acting on two genes, Obp22a and Obp51a. Comparative RNAseq data from the male reproductive tract of multiple Drosophila species revealed that Obp56g shows high male reproductive tract expression in a subset of taxa, though conserved head expression across the phylogeny. Together, these functional and expression data suggest that Obp56g may have been co-opted for a reproductive function over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora C Brown
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Benjamin Gordon
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | | | - Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Geoffrey D Findlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
- Department of Biology, College of the Holy CrossWorcesterUnited States
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
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7
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Hopkins BR, Angus-Henry A, Kim BY, Carlisle JA, Thompson A, Kopp A. Decoupled evolution of the Sex Peptide gene family and Sex Peptide Receptor in Drosophilidae. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.29.547128. [PMID: 37425821 PMCID: PMC10327216 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.29.547128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Across internally fertilising species, males transfer ejaculate proteins that trigger wide-ranging changes in female behaviour and physiology. Much theory has been developed to explore the drivers of ejaculate protein evolution. The accelerating availability of high-quality genomes now allows us to test how these proteins are evolving at fine taxonomic scales. Here, we use genomes from 264 species to chart the evolutionary history of Sex Peptide (SP), a potent regulator of female post-mating responses in Drosophila melanogaster. We infer that SP first evolved in the Drosophilinae subfamily and has followed markedly different evolutionary trajectories in different lineages. Outside of the Sophophora-Lordiphosa, SP exists largely as a single-copy gene with independent losses in several lineages. Within the Sophophora-Lordiphosa, the SP gene family has repeatedly and independently expanded. Up to seven copies, collectively displaying extensive sequence variation, are present in some species. Despite these changes, SP expression remains restricted to the male reproductive tract. Alongside, we document considerable interspecific variation in the presence and morphology of seminal microcarriers that, despite the critical role SP plays in microcarrier assembly in D. melanogaster, appear to be independent of changes in the presence/absence or sequence of SP. We end by providing evidence that SP's evolution is decoupled from that of its receptor, SPR, in which we detect no evidence of correlated diversifying selection. Collectively, our work describes the divergent evolutionary trajectories that a novel gene has taken following its origin and finds a surprisingly weak coevolutionary signal between a supposedly sexually antagonistic protein and its receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R. Hopkins
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, CA, USA
| | - Aidan Angus-Henry
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Jolie A. Carlisle
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ammon Thompson
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, CA, USA
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, CA, USA
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8
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Takashima YA, Majane AC, Begun DJ. Evolution of secondary cell number and position in the Drosophila accessory gland. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278811. [PMID: 37878630 PMCID: PMC10599531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In animals with internal fertilization, males transfer gametes and seminal fluid during copulation, both of which are required for successful reproduction. In Drosophila and other insects, seminal fluid is produced in the paired accessory gland (AG), the ejaculatory duct, and the ejaculatory bulb. The D. melanogaster AG has emerged as an important model system for this component of male reproductive biology. Seminal fluid proteins produced in the Drosophila AG are required for proper storage and use of sperm by the females, and are also critical for establishing and maintaining a suite of short- and long-term postcopulatory female physiological responses that promote reproductive success. The Drosophila AG is composed of two main cell types. The majority of AG cells, which are referred to as main cells, are responsible for production of many seminal fluid proteins. A minority of cells, about 4%, are referred to as secondary cells. These cells, which are restricted to the distal tip of the D. melanogaster AG, may play an especially important role in the maintenance of the long-term female post-mating response. Many studies of Drosophila AG evolution have suggested that the proteins produced in the gland evolve quickly, as does the transcriptome. Here, we investigate the evolution of secondary cell number and position in the AG in a collection of eight species spanning the entire history of the Drosophila genus. We document a heretofore underappreciated rapid evolutionary rate for both number and position of these specialized AG cells, raising several questions about the developmental, functional, and evolutionary significance of this variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko A. Takashima
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Alex C. Majane
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - David J. Begun
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
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9
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Patlar B, Fulham L, Civetta A. A predominant role of genotypic variation in both expression of sperm competition genes and paternity success in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231715. [PMID: 37727083 PMCID: PMC10509582 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm competition is a crucial aspect of male reproductive success in many species, including Drosophila melanogaster, and seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) can influence sperm competitiveness. However, the combined effect of environmental and genotypic variation on sperm competition gene expression remains poorly understood. Here, we used Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) inbred lines and manipulated developmental population density (i.e. larval density) to test the effects of genotype, environment and genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) on the expression of the known sperm competition genes Sex Peptide, Acp36DE and CG9997. High larval density resulted in reduced adult body size, but expression of sperm competition genes remained unaffected. Furthermore, we found no significant GEI but genotypic effects in the expression of SP and Acp36DE. Our results also revealed GEI for relative competitive paternity success (second male paternity; P2), with genes' expression positively correlated with P2. Given the effect of genotype on the expression of genes, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and identified polymorphisms in putative cis-regulatory elements as predominant factors regulating the expression of SP and Acp36DE. The association of genotypic variation with sperm competition outcomes, and the resilience of sperm competition genes' expression against environmental challenges, demonstrates the importance of genome variation background in reproductive fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Patlar
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 2E9
| | - Lauren Fulham
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 2E9
| | - Alberto Civetta
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 2E9
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10
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Guan GX, Yu XP, Li DT. Post-Mating Responses in Insects Induced by Seminal Fluid Proteins and Octopamine. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1283. [PMID: 37886993 PMCID: PMC10604773 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Following insect mating, females often exhibit a series of physiological, behavioral, and gene expression changes. These post-mating responses (PMRs) are induced by seminal fluid components other than sperm, which not only form network proteins to assist sperm localization, supplement female-specific protein requirements, and facilitate the formation of specialized functional structures, but also activate neuronal signaling pathways in insects. This review primarily discusses the roles of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) and octopamine (OA) in various PMRs in insects. It explores the regulatory mechanisms and mediation conditions by which they trigger PMRs, along with the series of gene expression differences they induce. Insect PMRs involve a transition from protein signaling to neuronal signaling, ultimately manifested through neural regulation and gene expression. The intricate signaling network formed as a result significantly influences female behavior and organ function, contributing to both successful reproduction and the outcomes of sexual conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dan-Ting Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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11
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Sekar A, Leiblich A, Wainwright SM, Mendes CC, Sarma D, Hellberg JEEU, Gandy C, Goberdhan DCI, Hamdy FC, Wilson C. Rbf/E2F1 control growth and endoreplication via steroid-independent Ecdysone Receptor signalling in Drosophila prostate-like secondary cells. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010815. [PMID: 37363926 PMCID: PMC10328346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In prostate cancer, loss of the tumour suppressor gene, Retinoblastoma (Rb), and consequent activation of transcription factor E2F1 typically occurs at a late-stage of tumour progression. It appears to regulate a switch to an androgen-independent form of cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which frequently still requires androgen receptor (AR) signalling. We have previously shown that upon mating, binucleate secondary cells (SCs) of the Drosophila melanogaster male accessory gland (AG), which share some similarities with prostate epithelial cells, switch their growth regulation from a steroid-dependent to a steroid-independent form of Ecdysone Receptor (EcR) control. This physiological change induces genome endoreplication and allows SCs to rapidly replenish their secretory compartments, even when ecdysone levels are low because the male has not previously been exposed to females. Here, we test whether the Drosophila Rb homologue, Rbf, and E2F1 regulate this switch. Surprisingly, we find that excess Rbf activity reversibly suppresses binucleation in adult SCs. We also demonstrate that Rbf, E2F1 and the cell cycle regulators, Cyclin D (CycD) and Cyclin E (CycE), are key regulators of mating-dependent SC endoreplication, as well as SC growth in both virgin and mated males. Importantly, we show that the CycD/Rbf/E2F1 axis requires the EcR, but not ecdysone, to trigger CycE-dependent endoreplication and endoreplication-associated growth in SCs, mirroring changes seen in CRPC. Furthermore, Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signalling, mediated by the BMP ligand Decapentaplegic (Dpp), intersects with CycD/Rbf/E2F1 signalling to drive endoreplication in these fly cells. Overall, our work reveals a signalling switch, which permits rapid growth of SCs and increased secretion after mating, independently of previous exposure to females. The changes observed share mechanistic parallels with the pathological switch to hormone-independent AR signalling seen in CRPC, suggesting that the latter may reflect the dysregulation of a currently unidentified physiological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aashika Sekar
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Leiblich
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - S. Mark Wainwright
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Cláudia C. Mendes
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dhruv Sarma
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Carina Gandy
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah C. I. Goberdhan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Freddie C. Hamdy
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Wilson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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12
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Rohrbach EW, Knapp EM, Deshpande SA, Krantz DE. Drosophila cells that express octopamine receptors can either inhibit or promote oviposition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.03.539296. [PMID: 37205438 PMCID: PMC10187210 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.03.539296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Adrenergic signaling is known to play a critical role in regulating female reproductive processes in both mammals and insects. In Drosophila , the ortholog of noradrenaline, octopamine (Oa), is required for ovulation as well as several other female reproductive processes. Loss of function studies using mutant alleles of receptors, transporters, and biosynthetic enzymes for Oa have led to a model in which disruption of octopaminergic pathways reduces egg laying. However, neither the complete expression pattern in the reproductive tract nor the role of most octopamine receptors in oviposition is known. We show that all six known Oa receptors are expressed in peripheral neurons at multiple sites within in the female fly reproductive tract as well as in non-neuronal cells within the sperm storage organs. The complex pattern of Oa receptor expression in the reproductive tract suggests the potential for influencing multiple regulatory pathways, including those known to inhibit egg-laying in unmated flies. Indeed, activation of some neurons that express Oa receptors inhibits oviposition, and neurons that express different subtypes of Oa receptor can affect different stages of egg laying. Stimulation of some Oa receptor expressing neurons (OaRNs) also induces contractions in lateral oviduct muscle and activation of non-neuronal cells in the sperm storage organs by Oa generates OAMB-dependent intracellular calcium release. Our results are consistent with a model in which adrenergic pathways play a variety of complex roles in the fly reproductive tract that includes both the stimulation and inhibition of oviposition.
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13
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Brown NC, Gordon B, McDonough-Goldstein CE, Misra S, Findlay GD, Clark AG, Wolfner MF. The seminal odorant binding protein Obp56g is required for mating plug formation and male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.03.526941. [PMID: 36798169 PMCID: PMC9934574 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.03.526941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster and other insects, the seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) and male sex pheromones that enter the female with sperm during mating are essential for fertility and induce profound post-mating effects on female physiology and behavior. The SFPs in D. melanogaster and other taxa include several members of the large gene family known as odorant binding proteins (Obps). Previous work in Drosophila has shown that some Obp genes are highly expressed in the antennae and can mediate behavioral responses to odorants, potentially by binding and carrying these molecules to odorant receptors. These observations have led to the hypothesis that the seminal Obps might act as molecular carriers for pheromones or other compounds important for male fertility in the ejaculate, though functional evidence in any species is lacking. Here, we used RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 generated mutants to test the role of the seven seminal Obps in D. melanogaster fertility and the post-mating response (PMR). We found that Obp56g is required for male fertility and the induction of the PMR, whereas the other six genes had no effect on fertility when mutated individually. Obp56g is expressed in the male's ejaculatory bulb, an important tissue in the reproductive tract that synthesizes components of the mating plug. We found males lacking Obp56g fail to form a mating plug in the mated female's reproductive tract, leading to ejaculate loss and reduced sperm storage. We also examined the evolutionary history of these seminal Obp genes, as several studies have documented rapid evolution and turnover of SFP genes across taxa. We found extensive lability in gene copy number and evidence of positive selection acting on two genes, Obp22a and Obp51a. Comparative RNAseq data from the male reproductive tract of multiple Drosophila species revealed that Obp56g shows high male reproductive tract expression only in species of the melanogaster and obscura groups, though conserved head expression in all species tested. Together, these functional and expression data suggest that Obp56g may have been co-opted for a reproductive function over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora C. Brown
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Benjamin Gordon
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Present address: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Present address: University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, UK, India
| | - Geoffrey D. Findlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Andrew G. Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Mariana F. Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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14
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Mamtha R, Kiran T, Chandramohan V, Gowrishankar BS, Manjulakumari D. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the mating-responsive genes in the male accessory glands of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:11. [PMID: 36723695 PMCID: PMC9892375 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00466-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mating elicits significant changes in gene expression and leads to subsequent physiological and behavioural modifications in insects. The reproductive success of both sexes is contributed immensely by the male accessory gland (MAG) proteins that are transferred along with sperms to the female reproductive tract during mating where they facilitate several processes that modify the post-mating behaviour. The mating-responsive genes in the MAGs have been identified and reported in many insects but have not been well-characterized in the important agricultural pest Spodoptera litura. Here, we present RNA sequencing analysis to identify mating-responsive genes from the accessory glands of virgin males and males interrupted during mating. RESULTS Overall, 91,744 unigenes were generated after clustering the assembled transcript sequences of both samples, while the total number of transcripts annotated was 48,708 based on sequence homology against the non-redundant (NR) database. Comparative transcriptomics analysis revealed 16,969 genes that were differentially expressed between the two groups, including 9814 up-regulated and 7155 down-regulated genes. Among the top 80 genes that were selected for heat map analysis, several prominent genes including odorant binding protein, cytochrome P450, heat shock proteins, juvenile hormone binding protein, carboxypeptidases and serine protease were differentially expressed. CONCLUSIONS The identified genes are known or predicted to promote several processes that modify the female post-mating behaviour. Future studies with the individual MAG protein or in combination will be required to recognize the precise mechanisms by which these proteins alter female physiology and reproductive behaviour. Thus, our study provides essential data to address fundamental questions about reproduction within and among insects and also paves way for further exploration of the functions of these proteins in female insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Mamtha
- grid.37728.390000 0001 0730 3862Department of Microbiology & Biotechnology, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560056 India
| | - Tannavi Kiran
- grid.37728.390000 0001 0730 3862Department of Microbiology & Biotechnology, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560056 India
| | - Vivek Chandramohan
- grid.444321.40000 0004 0501 2828Department of Biotechnology, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka 572103 India
| | - B. S. Gowrishankar
- grid.444321.40000 0004 0501 2828Department of Biotechnology, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka 572103 India
| | - D. Manjulakumari
- grid.37728.390000 0001 0730 3862Department of Microbiology & Biotechnology, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560056 India
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15
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Misra S, Buehner NA, Singh A, Wolfner MF. Female factors modulate Sex Peptide's association with sperm in Drosophila melanogaster. BMC Biol 2022; 20:279. [PMID: 36514080 PMCID: PMC9749180 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01465-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male-derived seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) that enter female fruitflies during mating induce a myriad of physiological and behavioral changes, optimizing fertility of the mating pair. Some post-mating changes in female Drosophila melanogaster persist for ~10-14 days. Their long-term persistence is because the seminal protein that induces these particular changes, the Sex Peptide (SP), is retained long term in females by binding to sperm, with gradual release of its active domain from sperm. Several other "long-term response SFPs" (LTR-SFPs) "prime" the binding of SP to sperm. Whether female factors play a role in this process is unknown, though it is important to study both sexes for a comprehensive physiological understanding of SFP/sperm interactions and for consideration in models of sexual conflict. RESULTS We report here that sperm in male ejaculates bind SP more weakly than sperm that have entered females. Moreover, we show that the amount of SP, and other SFPs, bound to sperm increases with time and transit of individual seminal proteins within the female reproductive tract (FRT). Thus, female contributions are needed for maximal and appropriate binding of SP, and other SFPs, to sperm. Towards understanding the source of female molecular contributions, we ablated spermathecal secretory cells (SSCs) and/or parovaria (female accessory glands), which contribute secretory proteins to the FRT. We found no dramatic change in the initial levels of SP bound to sperm stored in mated females with ablated or defective SSCs and/or parovaria, indicating that female molecules that facilitate the binding of SP to sperm are not uniquely derived from SSCs and parovaria. However, we observed higher levels of SP (and sperm) retention long term in females whose SSCs and parovaria had been ablated, indicating secretions from these female tissues are necessary for the gradual release of Sex Peptide's active region from stored sperm. CONCLUSION This study reveals that the SP-sperm binding pathway is not entirely male-derived and that female contributions are needed to regulate the levels of SP associated with sperm stored in their storage sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.,Present address: School of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, UK, 248007, India
| | - Norene A Buehner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Akanksha Singh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.,Present address: Centre for Life Sciences, Mahindra University, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500043, India
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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16
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Gordon KE, Wolfner MF, Lazzaro BP. A single mating is sufficient to induce persistent reduction of immune defense in mated female Drosophila melanogaster. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 140:104414. [PMID: 35728669 PMCID: PMC10162487 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In many species, female reproductive investment comes at a cost to immunity and resistance to infection. Mated Drosophila melanogaster females are more susceptible to bacterial infection than unmated females. Transfer of the male seminal fluid protein Sex Peptide reduces female post-mating immune defense. Sex Peptide is known to cause both short- and long-term changes to female physiology and behavior. While previous studies showed that females were less resistant to bacterial infection as soon as 2.5 h and as long as 26.5 h after mating, it is unknown whether this is a binary switch from mated to unmated state or whether females can recover to unmated levels of immunity. It is additionally unknown whether repeated mating causes progressive reduction in defense capacity. We compared the immune defense of mated females when infected at 2, 4, 7, or 10 days after mating to that of unmated females and saw no recovery of immune capacity regardless of the length of time between mating and infection. Because D. melanogaster females can mate multiply, we additionally tested whether a second mating, and therefore a second transfer of seminal fluids, caused deeper reduction in immune performance. We found that females mated either once or twice before infection survived at equal proportions, both with significantly lower probability than unmated females. We conclude that a single mating event is sufficient to persistently suppress the female immune system. Interestingly, we observed that induced levels of expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) decreased with age in both experiments, partially obscuring the effects of mating. Collectively, the data indicate that being reproductively active versus reproductively inactive are alternative binary states with respect to female D. melanogaster immunity. The establishment of a suppressed immune status in reproductively active females can inform our understanding of the regulation of immune defense and the mechanisms of physiological trade-offs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Gordon
- Field of Genetics, Genomics, and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Field of Genetics, Genomics, and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Brian P Lazzaro
- Field of Genetics, Genomics, and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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17
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The life history of
Drosophila
sperm involves molecular continuity between male and female reproductive tracts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2119899119. [PMID: 35254899 PMCID: PMC8931355 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119899119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In species with internal fertilization, sperm spend an important part of their lives within the female. To examine the life history of the sperm during this time, we used semiquantitative proteomics and sex-specific isotopic labeling in fruit flies to determine the extent of molecular continuity between male and female reproductive tracts and provide a global catalog of sperm-associated proteins. Multiple seminal fluid proteins and female proteins associate with sperm immediately after mating. Few seminal fluid proteins remain after long-term sperm storage, whereas female-derived proteins constitute one-fifth of the postmating sperm proteome by then. Our data reveal a molecular “hand-off” from males to females, which we postulate to be an important component of sperm–female interactions. Interactions between sperm and the female reproductive tract (FRT) are critical to reproductive success and yet are poorly understood. Because sperm complete their functional maturation within the FRT, the life history of sperm is likely to include a molecular “hand-off” from males to females. Although such intersexual molecular continuity is likely to be widespread among all internally fertilizing species, the identity and extent of female contributions are largely unknown. We combined semiquantitative proteomics with sex-specific isotopic labeling to catalog the posttesticular life history of the sperm proteome and determine the extent of molecular continuity between male and FRTs. We show that the Drosophila melanogaster sperm proteome undergoes substantial compositional changes after being transferred to the FRT. Multiple seminal fluid proteins initially associate with sperm, but most become undetectable after sperm are stored. Female-derived proteins also begin to associate with sperm immediately after mating, and they comprise nearly 20% of the postmating sperm proteome following 4 d of storage in the FRT. Female-derived proteins that associate with sperm are enriched for processes associated with energy metabolism, suggesting that female contributions support sperm viability during the prolonged period between copulation and fertilization. Our research provides a comprehensive characterization of sperm proteome dynamics and expands our understanding of the critical process of sperm–FRT interactions.
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18
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Hopkins BR, Perry JC. The evolution of sex peptide: sexual conflict, cooperation, and coevolution. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1426-1448. [PMID: 35249265 PMCID: PMC9256762 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A central paradigm in evolutionary biology is that the fundamental divergence in the fitness interests of the sexes (‘sexual conflict’) can lead to both the evolution of sex‐specific traits that reduce fitness for individuals of the opposite sex, and sexually antagonistic coevolution between the sexes. However, clear examples of traits that evolved in this way – where a single trait in one sex demonstrably depresses the fitness of members of the opposite sex, resulting in antagonistic coevolution – are rare. The Drosophila seminal protein ‘sex peptide’ (SP) is perhaps the most widely cited example of a trait that appears to harm females while benefitting males. Transferred in the ejaculate by males during mating, SP triggers profound and wide‐ranging changes in female behaviour and physiology. Early studies reported that the transfer of SP enhances male fitness while depressing female fitness, providing the foundations for the widespread view that SP has evolved to manipulate females for male benefit. Here, we argue that this view is (i) a simplification of a wider body of contradictory empirical research, (ii) narrow with respect to theory describing the origin and maintenance of sexually selected traits, and (iii) hard to reconcile with what we know of the evolutionary history of SP's effects on females. We begin by charting the history of thought regarding SP, both at proximate (its production, function, and mechanism of action) and ultimate (its fitness consequences and evolutionary history) levels, reviewing how studies of SP were central to the development of the field of sexual conflict. We describe a prevailing paradigm for SP's evolution: that SP originated and continues to evolve to manipulate females for male benefit. In contrast to this view, we argue on three grounds that the weight of evidence does not support the view that receipt of SP decreases female fitness: (i) results from studies of SP's impact on female fitness are mixed and more often neutral or positive, with fitness costs emerging only under nutritional extremes; (ii) whether costs from SP are appreciable in wild‐living populations remains untested; and (iii) recently described confounds in genetic manipulations of SP raise the possibility that measures of the costs and benefits of SP have been distorted. Beyond SP's fitness effects, comparative and genetic data are also difficult to square with the idea that females suffer fitness costs from SP. Instead, these data – from functional and evolutionary genetics and the neural circuitry of female responses to SP – suggest an evolutionary history involving the evolution of a dedicated SP‐sensing apparatus in the female reproductive tract that is likely to have evolved because it benefits females, rather than harms them. We end by exploring theory and evidence that SP benefits females by functioning as a signal of male quality or of sperm receipt and storage (or both). The expanded view of the evolution of SP that we outline recognises the context‐dependent and fluctuating roles played by both cooperative and antagonistic selection in the origin and maintenance of reproductive traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R. Hopkins
- Department of Evolution and Ecology University of California – Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 U.S.A
| | - Jennifer C. Perry
- School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ U.K
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19
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Majane AC, Cridland JM, Begun DJ. Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal evolutionary and functional properties of cell types in the Drosophila accessory gland. Genetics 2022; 220:iyab213. [PMID: 34849871 PMCID: PMC9097260 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many traits responsible for male reproduction evolve quickly, including gene expression phenotypes in germline and somatic male reproductive tissues. Rapid male evolution in polyandrous species is thought to be driven by competition among males for fertilizations and conflicts between male and female fitness interests that manifest in postcopulatory phenotypes. In Drosophila, seminal fluid proteins secreted by three major cell types of the male accessory gland and ejaculatory duct are required for female sperm storage and use, and influence female postcopulatory traits. Recent work has shown that these cell types have overlapping but distinct effects on female postcopulatory biology, yet relatively little is known about their evolutionary properties. Here, we use single-nucleus RNA-Seq of the accessory gland and ejaculatory duct from Drosophila melanogaster and two closely related species to comprehensively describe the cell diversity of these tissues and their transcriptome evolution for the first time. We find that seminal fluid transcripts are strongly partitioned across the major cell types, and expression of many other genes additionally defines each cell type. We also report previously undocumented diversity in main cells. Transcriptome divergence was found to be heterogeneous across cell types and lineages, revealing a complex evolutionary process. Furthermore, protein adaptation varied across cell types, with potential consequences for our understanding of selection on male postcopulatory traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Majane
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Julie M Cridland
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David J Begun
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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20
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Zupanič N, Počič J, Leonardi A, Šribar J, Kordiš D, Križaj I. Serine pseudoproteases in physiology and disease. FEBS J 2022; 290:2263-2278. [PMID: 35032346 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Serine proteases (SPs) constitute a very important family of enzymes, both physiologically and pathologically. The effects produced by these proteins have been explained by their proteolytic activity. However, the discovery of pharmacologically active SP molecules that show no enzymatic activity, as the so-called pseudo SPs or SP homologs (SPHs), has exposed a profoundly neglected possibility of nonenzymatic functions of these SP molecules. In this review, the most thoroughly described SPHs are presented. The main physiological domains in which SPHs operate appear to be in reproduction, embryonic development, immune response, host defense, and hemostasis. Hitherto unexplained actions of SPs should therefore be considered also as the result of the ligand-like attributes of SPs. The gain of a novel function by an SPH is a consequence of specific amino acid replacements that have resulted in a novel interaction interface or a 'catalytic trap'. Unraveling the SP/SPH interactome will provide a description of previously unknown physiological functions of SPs/SPHs, aiding the creation of innovative medical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Zupanič
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Jožef Stefan Institute Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Jernej Počič
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Jožef Stefan Institute Ljubljana Slovenia
- Biotechnical Faculty University of Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Adrijana Leonardi
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Jožef Stefan Institute Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Jernej Šribar
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Jožef Stefan Institute Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Dušan Kordiš
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Jožef Stefan Institute Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Igor Križaj
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Jožef Stefan Institute Ljubljana Slovenia
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21
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Ohsako T, Shirakami M, Oiwa K, Ibaraki K, Karr TL, Tomaru M, Sanuki R, Takano-Shimizu-Kouno T. The Drosophila Neprilysin 4 gene is essential for sperm function following sperm transfer to females. Genes Genet Syst 2021; 96:177-186. [PMID: 34556622 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.21-00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm are modified substantially in passing through both the male and the female reproductive tracts, only thereafter becoming functionally competent to fertilize eggs. Drosophila sperm become motile in the seminal vesicle; after ejaculation, they interact with seminal fluid proteins and undergo biochemical changes on their surface while they are stored in the female sperm storage organs. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these maturation processes remain largely unknown. Here, we focused on Drosophila Neprilysin genes, which are the fly orthologs of the mouse Membrane metallo-endopeptidase-like 1 (Mmel1) gene. While Mmel1 knockout male mice have reduced fertility without abnormality in either testis morphology or sperm motility, there are inconsistent results regarding the association of any Neprilysin gene with male fertility in Drosophila. We examined the association of the Nep1-5 genes with male fertility by RNAi and found that Nep4 gene function is specifically required in germline cells. To investigate this in more detail, we induced mutations in the Nep4 gene by the CRISPR/Cas9 system and isolated two mutants, both of which were viable and female fertile, but male sterile. The mutant males had normal-looking testes and sperm; during copulation, sperm were transferred to females and stored in the seminal receptacle and paired spermathecae. However, following sperm transfer and storage, three defects were observed for Nep4 mutant sperm. First, sperm were quickly discarded by the females; second, the proportion of eggs fertilized was significantly lower for mutant sperm than for control sperm; and third, most eggs laid did not initiate development after sperm entry. Taking these observations together, we conclude that the Nep4 gene is essential for sperm function following sperm transfer to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Ohsako
- Advanced Technology Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology
| | - Machi Shirakami
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology
| | - Kazuharu Oiwa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology
| | - Kimihide Ibaraki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology
| | - Timothy L Karr
- Mass Spectroscopy Core Facility, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University
| | - Masatoshi Tomaru
- Faculty of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology.,Advanced Insect Research Promotion Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology
| | - Rikako Sanuki
- Faculty of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology.,Advanced Insect Research Promotion Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology
| | - Toshiyuki Takano-Shimizu-Kouno
- Faculty of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology.,Advanced Insect Research Promotion Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology
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22
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Drosophila Accessory Gland: A Complementary In Vivo Model to Bring New Insight to Prostate Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092387. [PMID: 34572036 PMCID: PMC8468328 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in aging men. Despite recent progress, there are still few effective treatments to cure its aggressive and metastatic stages. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving disease initiation and progression appears essential to support the development of more efficient therapies and improve patient care. To do so, multiple research models, such as cell culture and mouse models, have been developed over the years and have improved our comprehension of the biology of the disease. Recently, a new model has been added with the use of the Drosophila accessory gland. With a high level of conservation of major signaling pathways implicated in human disease, this functional equivalent of the prostate represents a powerful, inexpensive, and rapid in vivo model to study epithelial carcinogenesis. The purpose of this review is to quickly overview the existing prostate cancer models, including their strengths and limitations. In particular, we discuss how the Drosophila accessory gland can be integrated as a convenient complementary model by bringing new understanding in the mechanisms driving prostate epithelial tumorigenesis, from initiation to metastatic formation.
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23
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Slater GP, Smith NMA, Harpur BA. Prospects in Connecting Genetic Variation to Variation in Fertility in Male Bees. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1251. [PMID: 34440424 PMCID: PMC8392204 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees are economically and ecologically important pollinating species. Managed and native bee species face increasing pressures from human-created stressors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and introduced pathogens. There has been increasing attention towards how each of these factors impacts fertility, especially sperm production and maintenance in males. Here, we turn our attention towards another important factor impacting phenotypic variation: genetics. Using honey bees as a model, we explore the current understanding of how genetic variation within and between populations contributes to variation in sperm production, sperm maintenance, and insemination success among males. We conclude with perspectives and future directions in the study of male fertility in honey bees and non-Apis pollinators more broadly, which still remain largely understudied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garett P. Slater
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 W State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
| | - Nicholas M. A. Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Brock A. Harpur
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 W State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
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24
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Drosophila melanogaster sex peptide regulates mated female midgut morphology and physiology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2018112118. [PMID: 33443193 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018112118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster females experience a large shift in energy homeostasis after mating to compensate for nutrient investment in egg production. To cope with this change in metabolism, mated females undergo widespread physiological and behavioral changes, including increased food intake and altered digestive processes. The mechanisms by which the female digestive system responds to mating remain poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that the seminal fluid protein Sex Peptide (SP) is a key modulator of female post-mating midgut growth and gene expression. SP is both necessary and sufficient to trigger post-mating midgut growth in females under normal nutrient conditions, and likely acting via its receptor, Sex Peptide Receptor (SPR). Moreover, SP is responsible for almost the totality of midgut transcriptomic changes following mating, including up-regulation of protein and lipid metabolism genes and down-regulation of carbohydrate metabolism genes. These changes in metabolism may help supply the female with the nutrients required to sustain egg production. Thus, we report a role for SP in altering female physiology to enhance reproductive output: Namely, SP triggers the switch from virgin to mated midgut state.
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25
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Ahmed-Braimah YH, Wolfner MF, Clark AG. Differences in Postmating Transcriptional Responses between Conspecific and Heterospecific Matings in Drosophila. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:986-999. [PMID: 33035303 PMCID: PMC7947788 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In many animal species, females undergo physiological and behavioral changes after mating. Some of these changes are driven by male-derived seminal fluid proteins and are critical for fertilization success. Unfortunately, our understanding of the molecular interplay between female and male reproductive proteins remains inadequate. Here, we analyze the postmating response in a Drosophila species that has evolved strong gametic incompatibility with its sister species; Drosophila novamexicana females produce only ∼1% fertilized eggs in crosses with Drosophila americana males, compared to ∼98% produced in within-species crosses. This incompatibility is likely caused by mismatched male and female reproductive molecules. In this study, we use short-read RNA sequencing to examine the evolutionary dynamics of female reproductive genes and the postmating transcriptome response in crosses within and between species. First, we found that most female reproductive tract genes are slow-evolving compared to the genome average. Second, postmating responses in con- and heterospecific matings are largely congruent, but heterospecific matings induce expression of additional stress-response genes. Some of those are immunity genes that are activated by the Imd pathway. We also identify several genes in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway that are induced in heterospecific, but not conspecific mating. While this immune response was most pronounced in the female reproductive tract, we also detect it in the female head and ovaries. These results show that the female's postmating transcriptome-level response is determined in part by the genotype of the male, and that divergence in male reproductive genes and/or traits can have immunogenic effects on females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasir H Ahmed-Braimah
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 13850
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 13850
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 13850
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26
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Wainwright SM, Hopkins BR, Mendes CC, Sekar A, Kroeger B, Hellberg JEEU, Fan SJ, Pavey A, Marie PP, Leiblich A, Sepil I, Charles PD, Thézénas ML, Fischer R, Kessler BM, Gandy C, Corrigan L, Patel R, Wigby S, Morris JF, Goberdhan DCI, Wilson C. Drosophila Sex Peptide controls the assembly of lipid microcarriers in seminal fluid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2019622118. [PMID: 33495334 PMCID: PMC7865141 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019622118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid plays an essential role in promoting male reproductive success and modulating female physiology and behavior. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, Sex Peptide (SP) is the best-characterized protein mediator of these effects. It is secreted from the paired male accessory glands (AGs), which, like the mammalian prostate and seminal vesicles, generate most of the seminal fluid contents. After mating, SP binds to spermatozoa and is retained in the female sperm storage organs. It is gradually released by proteolytic cleavage and induces several long-term postmating responses, including increased ovulation, elevated feeding, and reduced receptivity to remating, primarily signaling through the SP receptor (SPR). Here, we demonstrate a previously unsuspected SPR-independent function for SP. We show that, in the AG lumen, SP and secreted proteins with membrane-binding anchors are carried on abundant, large neutral lipid-containing microcarriers, also found in other SP-expressing Drosophila species. These microcarriers are transferred to females during mating where they rapidly disassemble. Remarkably, SP is a key microcarrier assembly and disassembly factor. Its absence leads to major changes in the seminal proteome transferred to females upon mating. Males expressing nonfunctional SP mutant proteins that affect SP's binding to and release from sperm in females also do not produce normal microcarriers, suggesting that this male-specific defect contributes to the resulting widespread abnormalities in ejaculate function. Our data therefore reveal a role for SP in formation of seminal macromolecular assemblies, which may explain the presence of SP in Drosophila species that lack the signaling functions seen in Dmelanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mark Wainwright
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ben R Hopkins
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Cláudia C Mendes
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aashika Sekar
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Kroeger
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine E E U Hellberg
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shih-Jung Fan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Pavey
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Pauline P Marie
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Leiblich
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip D Charles
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marie L Thézénas
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Fischer
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carina Gandy
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Corrigan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Patel
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS Oxford, United Kingdom
- Applied Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden D-01069, Germany
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - John F Morris
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah C I Goberdhan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Wilson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom;
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27
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Simmons LW, Lovegrove M. Can paternal effects via seminal fluid contribute to the evolution of polyandry? Biol Lett 2020; 16:20200680. [PMID: 33202182 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic benefits from mating with multiple males are thought to favour the evolution of polyandry. However, recent evidence suggests that non-genetic paternal effects via seminal fluid might contribute to the observed effects of polyandry on offspring performance. Here, we test this hypothesis using the field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. Using interference RNA, we first show that at least one seminal fluid protein is essential for embryo survival. We then show that polyandrous females mated to three different males produced embryos with higher pre-hatching viability than did monandrous females mated with the same male three times. Pseudo-polyandrous females that obtained sperm and seminal fluid from a single male and seminal fluid from two additional males had embryos with viabilities intermediate between monandrous and polyandrous females. Our results suggest either that ejaculate mediated paternal effects on embryo viability have both genetic and non-genetic components, or that seminal fluids transferred by castrated males provide only a subset of proteins contained within the normal ejaculate, and are unable to exert their full effect on embryo viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Maxine Lovegrove
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
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28
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Wigby S, Brown NC, Allen SE, Misra S, Sitnik JL, Sepil I, Clark AG, Wolfner MF. The Drosophila seminal proteome and its role in postcopulatory sexual selection. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20200072. [PMID: 33070726 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Postcopulatory sexual selection (PCSS), comprised of sperm competition and cryptic female choice, has emerged as a widespread evolutionary force among polyandrous animals. There is abundant evidence that PCSS can shape the evolution of sperm. However, sperm are not the whole story: they are accompanied by seminal fluid substances that play many roles, including influencing PCSS. Foremost among seminal fluid models is Drosophila melanogaster, which displays ubiquitous polyandry, and exhibits intraspecific variation in a number of seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) that appear to modulate paternity share. Here, we first consolidate current information on the identities of D. melanogaster Sfps. Comparing between D. melanogaster and human seminal proteomes, we find evidence of similarities between many protein classes and individual proteins, including some D. melanogaster Sfp genes linked to PCSS, suggesting evolutionary conservation of broad-scale functions. We then review experimental evidence for the functions of D. melanogaster Sfps in PCSS and sexual conflict. We identify gaps in our current knowledge and areas for future research, including an enhanced identification of PCSS-related Sfps, their interactions with rival sperm and with females, the role of qualitative changes in Sfps and mechanisms of ejaculate tailoring. This article is part of the theme issue 'Fifty years of sperm competition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Wigby
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.,Faculty Biology, Applied Zoology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Nora C Brown
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sarah E Allen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jessica L Sitnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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29
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Minekawa K, Amino K, Matsuo T. A courtship behavior that makes monandrous females polyandrous. Evolution 2020; 74:2483-2493. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.14098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyoshi Minekawa
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology The University of Tokyo Tokyo 113–8657 Japan
| | - Kai Amino
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology The University of Tokyo Tokyo 113–8657 Japan
| | - Takashi Matsuo
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology The University of Tokyo Tokyo 113–8657 Japan
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30
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Daupagne L, Koene JM. Disentangling female postmating responses induced by semen transfer components in a simultaneous hermaphrodite. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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31
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Zou MM, Wang Q, Chu LN, Vasseur L, Zhai YL, Qin YD, He WY, Yang G, Zhou YY, Peng L, You MS. CRISPR/Cas9-induced vitellogenin knockout lead to incomplete embryonic development in Plutella xylostella. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 123:103406. [PMID: 32485215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (Vg) is important for insect egg maturation and embryo development. In the present study, we characterized the molecular structure and expression profile of Vg gene, and analyzed its reproductive functions in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), a destructive pest of cruciferous crops, using CRISPR/Cas9 system. The P. xylostella Vg (PxVg) included all conserved domains and motifs that were commonly found in most insect Vgs except for the polyserine tract. PxVg gene was highly expressed in female pupae and adults. PxVg protein was detected in eggs and female adults. PxVg was mainly expressed in the fat body and its protein was detected in most tissues, except in the midgut. CRISPR/Cas9-induced PxVg knockout successfully constructed a homozygous mutant strain with a 5-base pair nucleotide deletion. No PxVg protein was found in the mutant individuals and in their ovaries. There were no significant differences between wild (WT) and mutant (Mut-5) types of P. xylostella in terms of ovariole length and the number of fully developed oocytes in newly emerged females. No significant difference was observed in the number of eggs laid within two days, but there was a lower egg hatchability (84% for WT vs. 47% for Mut-5). This is the first study presenting the functions of Vg in ovary development, egg maturation, oviposition and embryonic development of P. xylostella. Our results suggest that the reproductive functions of Vg may be species-specific in insects. It is possible that Vg may not be the major egg yolk protein precursor in P. xylostella. Other "functional Vgs" closely involved in the yolk formation and oogenesis would need to be further explored in P. xylostella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Min Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Li-Na Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Liette Vasseur
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Yi-Long Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yu-Dong Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wei-Yi He
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Lu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
| | - Min-Sheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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Misra S, Wolfner MF. Drosophila seminal sex peptide associates with rival as well as own sperm, providing SP function in polyandrous females. eLife 2020; 9:58322. [PMID: 32672537 PMCID: PMC7398695 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
When females mate with more than one male, the males’ paternity share is affected by biases in sperm use. These competitive interactions occur while female and male molecules and cells work interdependently to optimize fertility, including modifying the female’s physiology through interactions with male seminal fluid proteins (SFPs). Some modifications persist, indirectly benefiting later males. Indeed, rival males tailor their ejaculates accordingly. Here, we show that SFPs from one male can directly benefit a rival’s sperm. We report that Sex Peptide (SP) that a female Drosophila receives from a male can bind sperm that she had stored from a previous male, and rescue the sperm utilization and fertility defects of an SP-deficient first-male. Other seminal proteins received in the first mating ‘primed’ the sperm (or the female) for this binding. Thus, SP from one male can directly benefit another, making SP a key molecule in inter-ejaculate interaction. When fruit flies and other animals reproduce, a compatible male and a female mate, allowing sperm from the male to swim to and fuse with the female’s egg cells. The males also produce proteins known as seminal proteins that travel with the sperm. These proteins increase the likelihood of sperm meeting an egg and induce changes in the female that increase the number, or quality, of offspring produced. Some seminal proteins help a male to compete against its rivals by decreasing their chances to fertilize eggs. However, since many of the changes seminal proteins induce in females are long-lasting, it is possible that a subsequent male may actually benefit indirectly from the effects of a prior male’s seminal proteins. It remains unclear whether the seminal proteins of one male are also able to directly interact with and help the sperm of another male. Male fruit flies make a seminal protein known as sex peptide. Normally, a sex peptide binds to the sperm it accompanies into the female, increasing the female’s fertility and preventing her from mating again with a different male. To test whether the sex peptide from one male can bind to and help a rival male’s sperm, Misra and Wolfner mated female fruit flies with different combinations of males that did, or did not, produce the sex peptide. The experiments found that female flies that only mated with mutant males lacking the sex peptide produced fewer offspring than if they had mated with a ‘normal’ male. However, in females that mated with a mutant male followed by another male who provided the sex peptide, the second male’s sex peptide was able to bind to the mutant male’s sperm (as well as to his own). This in turn allowed the mutant male’s sperm to be efficiently used to sire offspring, at levels comparable to a normal male providing the sex peptide. These findings demonstrate that the ways individual male fruit flies interact during reproduction are more complex than just simple rivalry. Since humans and other animals also produce seminal proteins comparable to those of fruit flies, this work may aid future advances in human fertility treatments and strategies to control the fertility of livestock and pests, including mosquitoes that transmit diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
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33
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Mossman JA, Mabeza RMS, Blake E, Mehta N, Rand DM. Age of Both Parents Influences Reproduction and Egg Dumping Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. J Hered 2020; 110:300-309. [PMID: 30753690 PMCID: PMC6503451 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esz009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Trans-generational maternal effects have been shown to influence a broad range of offspring phenotypes. However, very little is known about paternal trans-generational effects. Here, we tested the trans-generational effects of maternal and paternal age, and their interaction, on daughter and son reproductive fitness in Drosophila melanogaster. We found significant effects of parent ages on offspring reproductive fitness during a 10 day postfertilization period. In daughters, older (45 days old) mothers conferred lower reproductive fitness compared with younger mothers (3 days old). In sons, father’s age significantly affected reproductive fitness. The effects of 2 old parents were additive in both sexes and reproductive fitness was lowest when the focal individual had 2 old parents. Interestingly, daughter fertility was sensitive to father’s age but son fertility was insensitive to mother’s age, suggesting a sexual asymmetry in trans-generational effects. We found the egg-laying dynamics in daughters dramatically shaped this relationship. Daughters with 2 old parents demonstrated an extreme egg dumping behavior on day 1 and laid >2.35× the number of eggs than the other 3 age class treatments. Our study reveals significant trans-generational maternal and paternal age effects on fertility and an association with a novel egg laying behavioral phenotype in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim A Mossman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Russyan Mark S Mabeza
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Emma Blake
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Neha Mehta
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - David M Rand
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G, Brown University, Providence, RI
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34
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Pitnick S, Wolfner MF, Dorus S. Post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS). Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:365-392. [PMID: 31737992 PMCID: PMC7643048 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm must spend a minimum period of time within a female reproductive tract to achieve the capacity to fertilize oocytes. This phenomenon, termed sperm 'capacitation', was discovered nearly seven decades ago and opened a window into the complexities of sperm-female interaction. Capacitation is most commonly used to refer to a specific combination of processes that are believed to be widespread in mammals and includes modifications to the sperm plasma membrane, elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels, induction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, increased intracellular Ca2+ levels, hyperactivation of motility, and, eventually, the acrosome reaction. Capacitation is only one example of post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS) that are widespread throughout the animal kingdom. Although PEMS are less well studied in non-mammalian taxa, they likely represent the rule rather than the exception in species with internal fertilization. These PEMS are diverse in form and collectively represent the outcome of selection fashioning complex maturational trajectories of sperm that include multiple, sequential phenotypes that are specialized for stage-specific functionality within the female. In many cases, PEMS are critical for sperm to migrate successfully through the female reproductive tract, survive a protracted period of storage, reach the site of fertilization and/or achieve the capacity to fertilize eggs. We predict that PEMS will exhibit widespread phenotypic plasticity mediated by sperm-female interactions. The successful execution of PEMS thus has important implications for variation in fitness and the operation of post-copulatory sexual selection. Furthermore, it may provide a widespread mechanism of reproductive isolation and the maintenance of species boundaries. Despite their possible ubiquity and importance, the investigation of PEMS has been largely descriptive, lacking any phylogenetic consideration with regard to divergence, and there have been no theoretical or empirical investigations of their evolutionary significance. Here, we (i) clarify PEMS-related nomenclature; (ii) address the evolutionary origin, maintenance and divergence in PEMS in the context of the protracted life history of sperm and the complex, selective environment of the female reproductive tract; (iii) describe taxonomically widespread types of PEMS: sperm activation, chemotaxis and the dissociation of sperm conjugates; (iv) review the occurence of PEMS throughout the animal kingdom; (v) consider alternative hypotheses for the adaptive value of PEMS; (vi) speculate on the evolutionary implications of PEMS for genomic architecture, sexual selection, and reproductive isolation; and (vii) suggest fruitful directions for future functional and evolutionary analyses of PEMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Pitnick
- Department of Biology, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syacuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Mariana F. Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Steve Dorus
- Department of Biology, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syacuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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35
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Kerwin P, Yuan J, von Philipsborn AC. Female copulation song is modulated by seminal fluid. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1430. [PMID: 32188855 PMCID: PMC7080721 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15260-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In most animal species, males and females communicate during sexual behavior to negotiate reproductive investments. Pre-copulatory courtship may settle if copulation takes place, but often information exchange and decision-making continue beyond that point. Here, we show that female Drosophila sing by wing vibration in copula. This copulation song is distinct from male courtship song and requires neurons expressing the female sex determination factor DoublesexF. Copulation song depends on transfer of seminal fluid components of the male accessory gland. Hearing female copulation song increases the reproductive success of a male when he is challenged by competition, suggesting that auditory cues from the female modulate male ejaculate allocation. Our findings reveal an unexpected fine-tuning of reproductive decisions during a multimodal copulatory dialog. The discovery of a female-specific acoustic behavior sheds new light on Drosophila mating, sexual dimorphisms of neuronal circuits and the impact of seminal fluid molecules on nervous system and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kerwin
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Hoegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jiasheng Yuan
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Hoegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne C von Philipsborn
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Hoegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark.
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36
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Weber M, Patlar B, Ramm SA. Effects of two seminal fluid transcripts on post-mating behaviour in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:714-726. [PMID: 32064699 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) transferred to mating partners along with sperm often play crucial roles in mediating post-mating sexual selection. One way in which sperm donors can maximize their own reproductive success is by modifying the partner's (sperm recipient's) post-copulatory behaviour to prevent or delay re-mating, thereby decreasing the likelihood or intensity of sperm competition. Here, we adopted a quantitative genetic approach combining gene expression and behavioural data to identify candidates that could mediate such a response in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. We identified two putative SFPs-Mlig-pro46 and Mlig-pro63-linked to both mating frequency and 'suck' frequency, a distinctive behaviour, in which, upon ejaculate receipt, the worm places its pharynx over its female genital opening and apparently attempts to remove the received ejaculate. We, therefore, performed a manipulative experiment using RNA interference-induced knockdown to ask how the loss of Mlig-pro46 and Mlig-pro63 expression, singly and in combination, affects mating frequency, partner suck propensity and sperm competitive ability. None of the knockdown treatments impacted strongly on the mating frequency or sperm competitive ability, but knockdown of Mlig-pro63 resulted in a significantly decreased suck propensity of mating partners. This suggests that Mlig-pro63 may normally act as a cue in the ejaculate to trigger recipient suck behaviour and-given that other proteins in the ejaculate have the opposite effect-could be one component of an ongoing arms race between donors and recipients over the control of ejaculate fate. However, the adaptive significance of Mlig-pro46 and Mlig-pro63 from a donor perspective remains enigmatic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weber
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Bahar Patlar
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Steven A Ramm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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37
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Hopkins BR, Sepil I, Wigby S. Structural variation in Drosophila melanogaster spermathecal ducts and its association with sperm competition dynamics. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200130. [PMID: 32269825 PMCID: PMC7137968 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The ability of female insects to retain and use sperm for days, months, or even years after mating requires specialized storage organs in the reproductive tract. In most orders, these organs include a pair of sclerotized capsules known as spermathecae. Here, we report that some Drosophila melanogaster females exhibit previously uncharacterized structures within the distal portion of the muscular duct that links a spermatheca to the uterus. We find that these 'spermathecal duct presences' (SDPs) may form in either or both ducts and can extend from the duct into the sperm-storing capsule itself. We further find that the incidence of SDPs varies significantly between genotypes, but does not change significantly with the age or mating status of females, the latter indicating that SDPs are not composed of or stimulated by sperm or male seminal proteins. We show that SDPs affect neither the number of first male sperm held in a spermatheca nor the number of offspring produced after a single mating. However, we find evidence that SDPs are associated with a lack of second male sperm in the spermathecae after females remate. This raises the possibility that SDPs provide a mechanism for variation in sperm competition outcome among females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R. Hopkins
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
- Faculty Biology, Applied Zoology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
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38
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McGeary MK, Findlay GD. Molecular evolution of the sex peptide network in Drosophila. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:629-641. [PMID: 31991034 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Successful reproduction depends on interactions between numerous proteins beyond those involved directly in gamete fusion. Although such reproductive proteins evolve in response to sexual selection pressures, how networks of interacting proteins arise and evolve as reproductive phenotypes change remains an open question. Here, we investigated the molecular evolution of the 'sex peptide network' of Drosophila melanogaster, a functionally well-characterized reproductive protein network. In this species, the peptide hormone sex peptide (SP) and its interacting proteins cause major changes in female physiology and behaviour after mating. In contrast, females of more distantly related Drosophila species do not respond to SP. In spite of these phenotypic differences, we detected orthologs of all network proteins across 22 diverse Drosophila species and found evidence that most orthologs likely function in reproduction throughout the genus. Within SP-responsive species, we detected the recurrent, adaptive evolution of several network proteins, consistent with sexual selection acting to continually refine network function. We also found some evidence for adaptive evolution of several proteins along two specific phylogenetic lineages that correspond with increased expression of the SP receptor in female reproductive tracts or increased sperm length, respectively. Finally, we used gene expression profiling to examine the likely degree of functional conservation of the paralogs of an SP network protein that arose via gene duplication. Our results suggest a dynamic history for the SP network in which network members arose before the onset of robust SP-mediated responses and then were shaped by both purifying and positive selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan K McGeary
- Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts.,Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Geoffrey D Findlay
- Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts
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39
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Weber M, Giannakara A, Ramm SA. Seminal fluid-mediated fitness effects in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13889-13901. [PMID: 31938489 PMCID: PMC6953679 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
As a class, seminal fluid proteins are expected to exert strong effects on mating partners due to the selection pressures of sperm competition and sexual conflict. But because of the complexity of this secretion, linking specific proteins to downstream effects on own fitness-via manipulating the reproductive behavior, physiology, and ultimately the sperm utilization of mating partners-is not straightforward. Here, we adopted a systematic gene knockdown approach to screen for seminal fluid-mediated fitness effects in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. We focused on 18 transcripts in M. lignano seminal fluid, testing how their RNA interference-induced knockdown impacted on three aspects of donor (male) reproductive success: (a) fertility (offspring production of the partner); (b) defensive sperm competitive ability, P 1; and (c) offensive sperm competitive ability, P 2. In general, the knockdown of most individual transcripts appeared to have only a minor impact on male reproductive success, though we found evidence that the knockdown of up to five different transcripts impacted on fertility; the knockdown of two other transcripts resulted in reduced P 2; and knockdown of a further transcript actually increased P 2. We thus identify a number of candidate seminal fluid transcripts that appear to modulate offspring production and sperm competitiveness in M. lignano. That only a minority of transcripts exhibit such a pattern likely reflects both the difficulty of accurately estimating sperm competitiveness and the functional redundancy of seminal fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weber
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Athina Giannakara
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Steven A. Ramm
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
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40
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Sirot LK. Modulation of seminal fluid molecules by males and females. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 35:109-116. [PMID: 31472462 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In insects, seminal fluid molecules (SFMs) influence female post-mating phenotypes that affect reproductive success including egg development, sperm use, mating behavior, attractiveness, and lifespan. Yet, the magnitude of these effects can be quite variable, even within inbred strains. This variation is important because it could impact post-copulatory reproductive success of both males and females. One likely cause of this variation is modulation by males or females of the quantities or qualities (e.g. stability or activity state) of SFMs, or, in the case of females, of their sensitivity to SFMs. Here, I review opportunities for SFM modulation by males and females and propose that these processes could provide mechanisms by which information received before and during copulation influences post-copulatory reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura King Sirot
- Department of Biology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691, United States.
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41
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Ge L, Zhou Y, Gu H, Wu Q, Zhou Z, Zheng S, Stanley D, Song Q. Male Selenoprotein F-Like (SPF-L) Influences Female Reproduction and Population Growth in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Front Physiol 2019; 10:1196. [PMID: 31611805 PMCID: PMC6773838 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Selenoproteins serve in anti-oxidant and cellular redox functions in almost all organisms. A recent study characterized a selenoprotein F-like (SPF-L) in the brown plant hopper’s (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, male accessory glands (MAGs), raised the question of whether the SPF-L is associated with female fecundity. In this study, SPF-L mRNA was found to be enriched in the internal reproductive organ (IRO) of virgin males, also expressed relatively stably in virgin males and females, and dietary dsSPF-L-treatments led to reduced MAG protein and Arginine content. Knockdown of NlSPF-L in unmated males did not influence juvenile hormone (JH) III and ecdysteroid titers, however, dsSPF-L-treated mated males had increased JH III titer, and reduced ecdysteroid titer compared to controls. After mating with dsSPF-L-treated males, female partners had reduced fat body and ovary soluble proteins and JH III tier and vitellogenin (Vg) mRNA levels, but no alterations in ecdysteroid titer, body weight or longevity. The experimental females had prolonged pre-oviposition periods and they laid fewer eggs, which suffered reduced hatching rates and population growth index (PGI). Such mating also led to impaired IRO development in males and females, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. We infer that SPF-L affects reproductive success of males and their partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- LinQuan Ge
- School of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - YongKai Zhou
- School of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - HaoTian Gu
- School of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qing Wu
- School of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ze Zhou
- School of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Sui Zheng
- School of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - David Stanley
- Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - QiSheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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42
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Civetta A, Ranz JM. Genetic Factors Influencing Sperm Competition. Front Genet 2019; 10:820. [PMID: 31572439 PMCID: PMC6753916 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Females of many different species often mate with multiple males, creating opportunities for competition among their sperm. Although originally unappreciated, sperm competition is now considered a central form of post-copulatory male–male competition that biases fertilization. Assays of differences in sperm competitive ability between males, and interactions between females and males, have made it possible to infer some of the main mechanisms of sperm competition. Nevertheless, classical genetic approaches have encountered difficulties in identifying loci influencing sperm competitiveness while functional and comparative genomic methodologies, as well as genetic variant association studies, have uncovered some interesting candidate genes. We highlight how the systematic implementation of approaches that incorporate gene perturbation assays in experimental competitive settings, together with the monitoring of progeny output or sperm features and behavior, has allowed the identification of genes unambiguously linked to sperm competitiveness. The emerging portrait from 45 genes (33 from fruit flies, 8 from rodents, 2 from nematodes, and 2 from ants) is their remarkable breadth of biological roles exerted through males and females, the non-preponderance of sperm genes, and their overall pleiotropic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Civetta
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - José M Ranz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
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43
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Divergent allocation of sperm and the seminal proteome along a competition gradient in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:17925-17933. [PMID: 31431535 PMCID: PMC6731677 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906149116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ejaculate quality plays an essential role in fertility, sperm competition, and offspring health. A key modulator of ejaculate quality is the social environment. Although males across taxa are known to strategically allocate sperm in response to rivals, how this applies to myriad other ejaculate components is poorly resolved. Here, we take a multilevel approach, from protein to fitness, to show that Drosophila melanogaster males divergently allocate sperm and seminal fluid proteins along a competition gradient. Using a combination of fluorescence-labeled sperm, quantitative proteomics, and multimating assays, we demonstrate that males are remarkably sensitive to the intensity of competition they perceive, show compositional change across and within portions of the ejaculate, and that this compositional change carries distinct costs and benefits. Sperm competition favors large, costly ejaculates, and theory predicts the evolution of allocation strategies that enable males to plastically tailor ejaculate expenditure to sperm competition threat. While greater sperm transfer in response to a perceived increase in the risk of sperm competition is well-supported, we have a poor understanding of whether males (i) respond to changes in perceived intensity of sperm competition, (ii) use the same allocation rules for sperm and seminal fluid, and (iii) experience changes in current and future reproductive performance as a result of ejaculate compositional changes. Combining quantitative proteomics with fluorescent sperm labeling, we show that Drosophila melanogaster males exercise independent control over the transfer of sperm and seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) under different levels of male–male competition. While sperm transfer peaks at low competition, consistent with some theoretical predictions based on sperm competition intensity, the abundance of transferred SFPs generally increases at high competition levels. However, we find that clusters of SFPs vary in the directionality and sensitivity of their response to competition, promoting compositional change in seminal fluid. By tracking the degree of decline in male mating probability and offspring production across successive matings, we provide evidence that ejaculate compositional change represents an adaptive response to current sperm competition, but one that comes at a cost to future mating performance. Our work reveals a previously unknown divergence in ejaculate component allocation rules, exposes downstream costs of elevated ejaculate investment, and ultimately suggests a central role for ejaculate compositional plasticity in sexual selection.
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44
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Sirot LK. On the evolutionary origins of insect seminal fluid proteins. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 278:104-111. [PMID: 30682344 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In most cases, proteins affect the phenotype of the individual in which they are produced. However, in some cases, proteins have evolved in such a way that they are able to influence the phenotype of another individual of the same or of a different species ("influential proteins"). Examples of interspecific influential proteins include venom proteins and proteins produced by parasites that influence their hosts' physiology or behavior. Examples of intraspecific influential proteins include those produced by both mothers and fetuses that mitigate maternal resource allocation and proteins transferred to females in the seminal fluid during mating that change female physiology and behavior. Although there has been much interest in the functions and evolutionary dynamics of these influential proteins, less is known about the origin of these proteins. Where does the DNA that encodes the proteins that can impact another individual's phenotype come from and how do the proteins acquire their influential abilities? In this mini-review, I use insect seminal fluid proteins as a case study to consider the origin of intraspecific influential proteins. The existing data suggest that influential insect seminal fluid proteins arise both through co-option of existing genes (both single copy genes and gene duplicates) and de novo evolution. Other mechanisms for the origin of new insect seminal fluid proteins (e.g., retrotransoposition and horizontal gene transfer) are plausible but have not yet been demonstrated. Additional gaps in our understanding of the origin of insect seminal fluid proteins include an understanding of the cis-regulatory elements that designate expression in the male reproductive tract and of the evolutionary steps by which individual proteins come to depend on other seminal fluid proteins for their activity within the mated female.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura King Sirot
- Department of Biology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691, United States.
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45
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Patlar B, Weber M, Ramm SA. Genetic and environmental variation in transcriptional expression of seminal fluid proteins. Heredity (Edinb) 2019; 122:595-611. [PMID: 30356222 PMCID: PMC6461930 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0160-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are crucial mediators of sexual selection and sexual conflict. Recent studies have chiefly focused on environmentally induced plasticity as one source of variation in SFP expression, particularly in response to differing sperm competition levels. However, understanding the evolution of a trait in heterogenous environments requires estimates of both environmental and genetic sources of variation, as well as their interaction. Therefore, we investigated how environment (specifically mating group size, a good predictor of sperm competition intensity), genotype and genotype-by-environment interactions affect seminal fluid expression. To do so, we reared 12 inbred lines of a simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano in groups of either two or eight worms and measured the expression levels of 58 putative SFP transcripts. We then examined the source of variation in the expression of each transcript individually and for multivariate axes extracted from a principal component analysis. We found that mating group size did not affect expression levels according to the single transcript analyses, nor did it affect the first principal component (presumably representing overall investment in seminal fluid production). However, mating group size did affect the relative expression of different transcripts captured by the second principal component (presumably reflecting variation in seminal fluid composition). Most transcripts were genetically variable in their expression level and several exhibited genotype-by-environment interactions; relative composition also showed high genetic variation. Collectively, our results reveal the tightly integrated nature of the seminal fluid transcriptome and provide new insights into the quantitative genetic basis of seminal fluid investment and composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Patlar
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Michael Weber
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Steven A Ramm
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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46
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Carrasquilla MC, Lounibos LP, Honorio NA, Murr S. Spermathecal Filling in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus: Effects of Female and Male Body Sizes and Species. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:334-340. [PMID: 30668724 PMCID: PMC6389318 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) are ecologically similar species that have evolved independently in their native ranges, Ae. aegypti in Africa and Ae. albopictus in Asia. Where their invasive ranges overlap, interspecific mating is facilitated by both species swarming to mate around bloodmeal hosts during daylight. Here, we test hypotheses to account for variation in spermathecal filling in females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, particularly, the effect of mosquito size on the number of spermathecae containing sperm after intraspecific and interspecifc matings of these two species. Results show that significantly more spermathecae contained sperm in large than in small Ae. albopictus females, but there was no effect of Ae. aegypti female body size on the average number of spermathecae filled. Among inseminated females, there was no effect of male size or cross-type on number of spermathecae with sperm. Differences in the effect of female size on the number of spermathecae that store sperm in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus imply differences in the mating biology of these two species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah Murr
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street London, UK
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47
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Prince E, Kroeger B, Gligorov D, Wilson C, Eaton S, Karch F, Brankatschk M, Maeda RK. Rab-mediated trafficking in the secondary cells of Drosophila male accessory glands and its role in fecundity. Traffic 2018; 20:137-151. [PMID: 30426623 PMCID: PMC6492190 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The male seminal fluid contains factors that affect female post‐mating behavior and physiology. In Drosophila, most of these factors are secreted by the two epithelial cell types that make up the male accessory gland: the main and secondary cells. Although secondary cells represent only ~4% of the cells of the accessory gland, their contribution to the male seminal fluid is essential for sustaining the female post‐mating response. To better understand the function of the secondary cells, we investigated their molecular organization, particularly with respect to the intracellular membrane transport machinery. We determined that large vacuole‐like structures found in the secondary cells are trafficking hubs labeled by Rab6, 7, 11 and 19. Furthermore, these organelles require Rab6 for their formation and many are essential in the process of creating the long‐term postmating behavior of females. In order to better serve the intracellular membrane and protein trafficking communities, we have created a searchable, online, open‐access imaging resource to display our complete findings regarding Rab localization in the accessory gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Prince
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Section of Biology, Sciences Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Kroeger
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dragan Gligorov
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Section of Biology, Sciences Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clive Wilson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Suzanne Eaton
- Biotechnology Center of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - François Karch
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Section of Biology, Sciences Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marko Brankatschk
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robert K Maeda
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Section of Biology, Sciences Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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48
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Singh A, Buehner NA, Lin H, Baranowski KJ, Findlay GD, Wolfner MF. Long-term interaction between Drosophila sperm and sex peptide is mediated by other seminal proteins that bind only transiently to sperm. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 102:43-51. [PMID: 30217614 PMCID: PMC6249070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins elicit several post-mating physiological changes in mated Drosophila melanogaster females. Some of these changes persist for over a week after mating because the seminal protein that causes these changes, the Sex Peptide (SP), binds to sperm that are stored in the female reproductive tract. SP's sperm binding is mediated by a network of at least eight seminal proteins. We show here that some of these network proteins (CG1656, CG1652, CG9997 and Antares) bind to sperm within 2 h of mating, like SP. However, while SP remains bound to sperm at 4 days post-mating, none of the other network proteins are detectable at this time. We also observed that the same network proteins are detectable at 2 h post-mating in seminal receptacle tissue from which sperm have been removed, but are no longer detectable there by 4 days post-mating, suggesting short-term retention of these proteins in this female sperm storage organ. Our results suggest that these network proteins act transiently to facilitate the conditions for SP's binding to sperm, perhaps by modifying SP or the sperm surface, but are not part of a long-acting complex that stably attaches SP to sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Singh
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Norene A Buehner
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - He Lin
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA; East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Geoffrey D Findlay
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA; Dept. of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, 01610, USA
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Abstract
Sexual conflict is acknowledged as pervasive, with the potential to generate and maintain genetic variation. Mechanistic studies of conflict have been important in providing direct evidence for the existence of sexual conflict. They have also led to the growing realization that there is a striking phenotypic diversity of adaptations whose evolution can be shaped by sexually antagonistic selection. The mechanisms involved range from the use of genital spines, claspers, songs, and smells to ejaculate molecules. In one well-studied example, sexual conflict can occur over the sexually antagonistic effects of seminal fluid proteins in Drosophila melanogaster. However, an important puzzle remains, namely, why seminal fluid proteins are so numerous and complex, hence whether all or some are involved in mediating sexual conflict. I hypothesize that this rich diversity and the complexity of traits subject to sexually antagonistic selection in general may arise, at least in part, due to the deployment of sexually antagonistic adaptations in males in a way that lessens the probability of broadscale, strong resistance evolution in females. In elaborating this hypothesis, I explore how research into the evolution of resistance to insecticides, antimicrobials, and vaccines might be used to provide insights into the evolution of female resistance to the effects of sexually antagonistic manipulative traits of males. In this manner, the manipulative traits of males can be resistance-proofed.
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50
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Gotoh A, Shigenobu S, Yamaguchi K, Kobayashi S, Ito F, Tsuji K. Transcriptome characterization of male accessory glands in ants to identify molecules involved in their reproductive success. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 27:212-220. [PMID: 29226989 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In insects, seminal fluid proteins that are produced by male accessory glands and transferred to females during mating have key functions in sperm competition and sperm physiology that lead to male reproductive success. In ants, male reproductive success also depends on the longevity of sperm stored in the queen's spermatheca because their sexual offspring are usually produced only after a prolonged storage period. We identified genes that were up-regulated in the male accessory glands relative to the bodies of Crematogaster osakensis to characterize the reproductive molecules associated with male reproductive success in ants. We found novel genes that had no hits in a homology search and that were predominantly expressed in the accessory glands. These reproductive proteins may have evolved under rapid positive selection for reproductive success in the species. Furthermore, we discovered that three spermatheca-specific genes of C. osakensis queens were also enriched in the accessory glands relative to the bodies of males. These genes may be important for maintaining the sperm quality continuously from ejaculation by males to prolonged storage by queens. This research provides crucial information about the molecular mechanisms of sperm maintenance and sexual selection in ants, and also insight into the evolution of reproductive strategies in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gotoh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering and Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - S Shigenobu
- NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, Faculty of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - K Yamaguchi
- NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - S Kobayashi
- Life Science Center of Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA Center), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - F Ito
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki, Japan
| | - K Tsuji
- Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Nishihara, Japan
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