Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA.
Am Nat. 2010 Jul;176(1):14-25. doi: 10.1086/652999.
Gamete-recognition proteins determine whether sperm and eggs are compatible at fertilization, and they often evolve rapidly. The source of selection driving the evolution of these proteins is still debated. It has been suggested that sexual conflict can result in proliferation of genetic variation and possibly linkage disequilibrium between sperm and egg proteins. Empirical evidence suggests that both male and female reproductive success can be predicted by their sperm ligand genotype, but why female success can be predicted by a protein expressed only in males is unknown. Here we use mathematical modeling to investigate the interaction between reproductive behavior and sperm availability on the evolution of sperm ligands and egg receptors. We consider haploid and diploid expression in gametes in two possible ecological scenarios, monogamous spawning and competitive spawning. Reproductive behavior plays an important role in determining possible outcomes resulting from sexual conflict. Sperm limitation selects for common genotypes regardless of mating behavior. Under conditions of sperm abundance, competitive spawning provides conditions for the persistence of allelic variation and gametic disequilibrium. With monogamous spawning, such conditions are more restrictive.
配子识别蛋白决定了精子和卵子在受精时是否相容，它们通常进化得很快。驱动这些蛋白质进化的选择源仍存在争议。有人认为，性冲突会导致遗传变异的增殖，并可能导致精子和卵子蛋白之间的连锁不平衡。实证证据表明，雄性和雌性的生殖成功都可以通过其精子配体基因型来预测，但为什么雌性的成功可以通过仅在雄性中表达的蛋白质来预测尚不清楚。在这里，我们使用数学建模来研究在配子中表达的单倍体和二倍体与两种可能的生态情景下的配子配体和卵受体的进化之间的相互作用：单配偶产卵和竞争产卵。生殖行为在决定性冲突可能产生的结果方面起着重要作用。精子限制选择了常见的基因型，而与交配行为无关。在精子丰富的情况下，竞争产卵为等位基因变异和配子不平衡的持续存在提供了条件。而在单配偶产卵的情况下，这种情况更为严格。
