Regulation of behavioral and pheromonal aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster by the Sex-lethal gene. | Zendy

Laurie Tompkins | Zendy; Scott P. McRobert | Zendy

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Regulation of behavioral and pheromonal aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster by the Sex-lethal gene.

Author(s) -

Laurie Tompkins,

Scott P. McRobert

Publication year - 1989

Publication title -

genetics

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.792

H-Index - 246

eISSN - 1943-2631

pISSN - 0016-6731

DOI - 10.1093/genetics/123.3.535

Subject(s) - drosophila melanogaster , biology , genetics , gene , drosophila (subgenus) , melanogaster , lethal allele

We have shown that the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene, which controls morphological aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster, also regulates sexual behavior. Chromosomal males that are hemizygous for a deletion of the entire Sxl locus perform normal courtship and synthesize the two courtship-inhibiting pheromones that normal males make. However, ectopic expression of female-specific Sex-lethal gene products drastically alters chromosomal males' ability to perform and elicit courtship and increases the probability that they will synthesize a courtship-stimulating pheromone or fail to synthesize one of the inhibitory pheromones. These observations suggest that male sexual behavior is a consequence of the Sxl gene's being functionally inactive in haplo-X flies.

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