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Male x Female Protein Interactions Mediating Reproductive Success in the Drosophila Mating Plug

雄性与雌性蛋白质相互作用介导果蝇交配插头的繁殖成功

基本信息

批准号：
10824541
负责人：
Jolie Anna Carlisle
金额：
$ 6.91万
依托单位：
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2024
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2024-01-01 至 2026-12-31
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10824541
关键词：
Affect Automobile Driving Behavior Behavioral Biological Models Candidate Disease Gene Coagulation Process Complex Conflict (Psychology)Copulation Deposition Drosophila genus Ejaculation Ensure Evolution Female Fertilizers Gene Expression Genes Genetic Genetic Variation Genomics Human Infertility Invertebrates Libido Mammals Mediating Molecular Molecular Evolution Multiple Partners Nervous System Neurons Outcome Ovulation Partner in relationship Phenotype Physiology Population Production Proteins RNA Interference Regulation Reproduction Reproductive Process Seminal fluid Shapes Time Tissues Uterus Variant cell type egg fighting fly genetic resource genome resource genome wide association study knock-down male neural neuromuscular neuroregulation offspring paralogous gene pressure reproductive reproductive function reproductive outcome reproductive success reproductive tract response sex sperm cell undergraduate student

项目摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY In both mammals and invertebrates, initiation of post-mating responses in the female post-copulation is known to contribute to reproductive success. Seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) have been shown to initiate many of these responses. However, male x female interactions are underexplored as contributors to infertility. Investigating the mechanisms and evolution of male x female interactions is critical for understanding the complexities of reproduction. I will use D. melanogaster as a model system for investigating post-copulatory male x female interactions via characterization of male and female contributions to the Drosophila mating plug’s (MP) formation and ejection. In Drosophila, the MP forms in the uterus of the female via coagulation of male- ejaculated Sfps and some female reproductive tract proteins. Genetic disruption of the MP impacts reproductive outcomes by affecting sperm retention; however, little is known about the male and female proteins (and their interactions) that modulate mating plug ejection (MPE) rates either directly by contributing to MP composition/degradation or indirectly by regulating female ejection behavior. In Aims 1 & 2 I will respectively use female or male phenotypic variation in the Drosophila Genomic Reference Panel to perform a GWAS on MPE timing. I will then functionally investigate how top gene candidates mediate MPE timing. I have concluded a GWAS on female MPE timing and have so far identified 4 neuronal genes that regulate female MPE (Aim 1). Using highly tissue- and cell type- specific knockdown of gene candidate expression via RNA interference, I will more deeply characterize neuronal regulation of female MPE timing. After also identifying and characterizing male genes regulating MPE timing (Aim2) I will perform a 6x6 grid cross of males and females with disrupted function of MPE genes to investigate the presence of complex non-additive male x female MPE interactions. Finally, I will investigate the molecular evolution and function of male and female genes contributing to MP composition (Aim 3). I discovered that many male and female MP genes are closely paralogous to each other and evolving under positive selection, potentially suggestive of evolution under sexual conflict. After fully characterizing the evolution and coevolution of these male and female MP paralogs, I will investigate their sex-specific functions in MPE and MP formation. Observation of opposing functions for paralogous male and female MP genes would point to sexual conflict driven evolution caused by opposing sex-specific optimal mating strategies. Observation of complementary functions would indicate similar evolutionary pressures acting on male and female paralogs to cooperatively ensure optimal reproductive outcomes.

项目总结