The Drosophila melanogaster Y-linked gene, WDY, is required for sperm to swim in the female reproductive tract.

ABSTRACT: Unique patterns of inheritance and selection on Y chromosomes have led to the evolution of specialized gene functions. We report CRISPR mutants in Drosophila of the Y-linked gene, WDY, which is required for male fertility. We demonstrate that the sperm tails of WDY mutants beat approximately half as fast as those of wild-type and that mutant sperm do not propel themselves within the male ejaculatory duct or female reproductive tract. Therefore, although mature sperm are produced by WDY mutant males, and are transferred to females, those sperm fail to enter the female sperm storage organs. We report genotype-dependent and regional differences in sperm motility that appear to break the correlation between sperm tail beating and propulsion. Furthermore, we identify a significant change in hyd

SUBMITTER: Hafezi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10786823 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature