Cleavage of the Drosophila seminal protein Acp36DE in mated females enhances its sperm storage activity.

ABSTRACT: Sperm storage in the mated female reproductive tract (RT) is required for optimal fertility in numerous species with internal fertilization. In Drosophila melanogaster, sperm storage is dependent on female receipt of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) during mating. The seminal fluid protein Acp36DE is necessary for the accumulation of sperm into storage. In the female RT, Acp36DE localizes to the anterior mating plug and also to a site in the common oviduct, potentially "corralling" sperm near the entry sites into the storage organs. Genetic studies showed that Acp36DE is also required for a series of conformational changes of the uterus that begin at the onset of mating and are hypothesized to move sperm towards the entry sites of the sperm storage organs. After Acp36DE is transferred to the

SUBMITTER: Avila FW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5572530 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature