Wolfner Mariana F
Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, 423 Biotechnology Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
J Hered. 2009 Jul-Aug;100(4):399-410. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esp013. Epub 2009 Apr 6.
Varied and fascinating interactions occur between males and females to lead to the production of progeny. Interactions between the sexes continue even after the act of mating-but at the molecular and cellular level instead of between individual animals. Molecules transferred from males to females during mating (via the seminal fluid) exert potent effects on females' physiology and (at least in some animals) on behavior. Taking advantage of genetic, genomic, and biochemical tools for Drosophila, we investigate molecular interactions that underlie this form of chemical communication. Recent data show that molecules and cells from both sexes participate in this "ballet," facilitating the mutually beneficial outcome of increased progeny production. Examples to be presented include the storage and utilization of sperm in the mated female, and a proteolytic pathway that begins in the male but ends in the female and involves both male and female contributions. Despite the joint benefit of increased progeny production, the "interests" of the mating male can differ from those of his mate. Over evolutionary time this disconnect can, in theory, precipitate a "battle" between the sexes, potentially leading to the rapid sequence changes that have been observed for some seminal proteins across species.
雄性和雌性之间会发生各种各样且引人入胜的相互作用，从而产生后代。即使在交配行为之后，两性之间的相互作用仍在继续——但这是在分子和细胞层面，而非个体动物之间。交配期间从雄性传递给雌性的分子（通过精液）对雌性的生理机能以及（至少在某些动物中）行为产生强大影响。利用果蝇的遗传、基因组和生化工具，我们研究了这种化学通讯形式背后的分子相互作用。最近的数据表明，来自两性的分子和细胞都参与了这场“芭蕾舞”，促进了后代产量增加这一互利的结果。将展示的例子包括交配雌性中精子的储存和利用，以及一条始于雄性但终止于雌性且涉及两性贡献的蛋白水解途径。尽管增加后代产量有共同益处，但交配雄性的“利益”可能与其配偶的不同。从进化的时间尺度来看，理论上这种脱节可能会引发两性之间的“战斗”，有可能导致跨物种观察到的一些精液蛋白的快速序列变化。
