POPULATION GENETICS OF DROSOPHILA REPRODUCTIVE GENES

积极的达尔文选择促进了与生殖有关的几个基因的多样化。然而，驱动其分歧的选择性力量仍然未知。很可能是雄性和雌性生殖蛋白之间的相互作用导致了这种快速的分化。我将研究果蝇生殖基因分化的选择力。果蝇雄性向雌性转移大约100种附属腺蛋白（Acps），从果蝇中已报道了18种Acps基因。黑腹菌Acps迅速进化，增加雌性的产卵率，降低雌性对进一步交配的接受性，促进精子在雌性体内的储存，介导精子的储存，并且作为这些有益作用的副产品，减少雌性的寿命。这项研究的第一个方面是确定女性受体Acps。识别它们的雌性结合伴侣将导致对促进这些雄性蛋白质快速进化的功能和选择力的深入了解。第二个方面涉及分析这些男性和女性的生殖基因在果蝇的实验种群的序列进化和生化功能，以测试一个假设提出的生殖基因的分歧。最后，将完成EST项目以鉴定所有Acp基因。EST项目中使用的实验方法允许深入分析该雄性生殖组织中所有蛋白质的进化。这将为快速进化的生殖分子类型提供见解。

The diversification of several genes involved in reproduction is promoted by positive Darwinian selection. However, the selective force(s) driving their divergence remains unknown. It is likely that the interaction between male and female reproductive proteins drives this rapid divergence. I will examine the selective forces driving the divergence of reproductive genes in Drosophila. Drosophila males transfer approximately 100 accessory gland proteins (Acps) to females during, 18 genes encoding Acps have been reported from D. melanogaster. Acps are rapidly evolving, increase the female's egg laying rate, reduce female receptivity to further mating, promote sperm storage in female, mediate sperm storage, and as a by product of these beneficial effects reduce the females lifespan. The first aspect of the proposed research is to identify female receptors Acps. Identifying their female binding partners will lead to insights to the function and selective forces promoting the rapid evolution of these male proteins. The second aspect involves analyzing these male and female reproductive genes in an experimental population of Drosophila in terms of sequence evolution and biochemical function to test a hypothesis proposed to account for the divergence of reproductive genes. Finally, an EST project will be completed to identify all Acp genes. The experimental methods used in the EST project allow an in depth analysis of the evolution of all proteins in this male reproductive tissues. This will provide insights into the type of reproductive molecules, which are rapidly evolving.