Induction of excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress in the Drosophila male accessory gland results in infertility.

ABSTRACT: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurs when misfolded proteins accumulate in the lumen of the ER. A cell responds to ER stress with the unfolded protein response (UPR), a complex program of transcriptional and translational changes aimed at clearing misfolded proteins. Secretory tissues and cells are particularly well adapted to respond to ER stress because their function requires high protein production and secretory load. The insect male accessory gland (AG) is a secretory tissue involved in male fertility. The AG secretes many seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) essential for male reproduction. Among adult Drosophila tissues, we find that genes upregulated by ER stress are most highly expressed in the AG, suggesting that the AG is already undergoing high levels of ER stress due to its norma

SUBMITTER: Chow CY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4350844 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature