Open AccessThe life history of Drosophila sperm involves molecular continuity between male and female reproductive tracts
Author(s) -
Erin L. McCullough,
Emma Whittington,
Akanksha Singh,
Scott Pitnick,
Mariana F. Wolfner,
Steve Dorus
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2119899119
Subject(s) - sperm , biology , mating , proteome , human fertilization , andrology , proteomics , drosophila (subgenus) , semen , evolutionary biology , genetics , gene , medicine
Significance 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.