The Drosophila melanogaster seminal fluid protease "seminase" regulates proteolytic and post-mating reproductive processes.

ABSTRACT: Proteases and protease inhibitors have been identified in the ejaculates of animal taxa ranging from invertebrates to mammals and form a major protein class among Drosophila melanogaster seminal fluid proteins (SFPs). Other than a single protease cascade in mammals that regulates seminal clot liquefaction, no proteolytic cascades (i.e. pathways with at least two proteases acting in sequence) have been identified in seminal fluids. In Drosophila, SFPs are transferred to females during mating and, together with sperm, are necessary for the many post-mating responses elicited in females. Though several SFPs are proteolytically cleaved either during or after mating, virtually nothing is known about the proteases involved in these cleavage events or the physiological consequences of proteolytic

SUBMITTER: LaFlamme BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3257295 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature