Mating alters gene expression patterns in Drosophila melanogaster male heads.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Behavior is a complex process resulting from the integration of genetic and environmental information. Drosophila melanogaster rely on multiple sensory modalities for reproductive success, and mating causes physiological changes in both sexes that affect reproductive output or behavior. Some of these effects are likely mediated by changes in gene expression. Courtship and mating alter female transcript profiles, but it is not known how mating affects male gene expression.

Results

We used Drosophila genome arrays to identify changes in gene expression profiles that occur in mated male heads. Forty-seven genes differed between mated and control heads 2 hrs post mating. Many mating-responsive genes are highly expressed in non-neural head tissues, including an adipose

SUBMITTER: Ellis LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3091707 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature