Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
Insect Mol Biol. 2011 Aug;20(4):447-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2011.01083.x. Epub 2011 Jun 20.
In several insect species, seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) have been demonstrated to be key regulators of male and female fitness through their ability to alter female physiology and behaviour. Tribolium castaneum is an economically important pest species and a model system for sexual selection research, but little is known about SFPs in this insect. To create a foundation for the study of T. castaneum SFPs, we used mass spectrometry to identify putative SFPs by comparing proteins detected in the male reproductive glands with those found in the reproductive tracts of virgin and mated females. Fourteen putative SFPs, thirteen with male biased expression, were identified through this approach. We also used reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) to examine expression levels across different tissue types. We found strongly male-biased expression in 13 genes, nine of which were expressed only in male accessory gland tissue. This represents the first proteomic-based method of identifying putative SFPs in any coleopteran species, and is the first study in this species to identify putative SFPs that are likely transferred to the female. This work could lead to functional analyses of the role of SFPs in sexual selection, sexual conflict and potential control of a pest species.
在几个昆虫物种中，已证明精液蛋白（SFPs）通过改变雌性的生理和行为，是调节雄性和雌性适合度的关键调节剂。赤拟谷盗是一种具有重要经济意义的害虫，也是性选择研究的模式系统，但对这种昆虫的 SFPs 知之甚少。为了为赤拟谷盗 SFPs 的研究奠定基础，我们使用质谱法通过比较在雄性生殖腺中检测到的蛋白质与处女和交配雌虫生殖道中发现的蛋白质，来鉴定可能的 SFPs。通过这种方法鉴定了 14 种可能的 SFPs，其中 13 种具有雄性偏倚表达。我们还使用逆转录 PCR（RT-PCR）检查了不同组织类型的表达水平。我们发现 13 个基因表现出强烈的雄性偏倚表达，其中 9 个基因仅在雄性附腺组织中表达。这代表了在任何鞘翅目物种中基于蛋白质组学的鉴定可能的 SFPs 的第一种方法，也是在该物种中鉴定可能转移到雌性的可能的 SFPs 的第一项研究。这项工作可能导致对 SFPs 在性选择、性冲突和潜在害虫控制中的作用进行功能分析。
