Gilbert D G, Richmond R C, Sheehan K B
Behav Genet. 1981 May;11(3):195-208. doi: 10.1007/BF01065458.
Esterase 6 (EST 6) in Drosophila melanogaster is a male reproductive enzyme transferred to females as a component of the seminal fluid [Richmond, R. C., Gilbert, D. G., Sheehan, K. B., Gromko, M. H., and Butterworth, F. W. (1980). Science 207:1483-1485]. Here we report investigation into the relation between EST 6 and remating by females. EST 6 activity in a strain selected for decreased time to remating is increased over control levels. Inseminated females remated to males carrying null or active alleles show no differences in the timing of remating, However, females inseminated by EST 6-active males remate significantly sooner than females inseminated by null males. Interrupted copulation experiments demonstrate that the remating effect is not due to EST 6 alone but requires other components of the ejaculate. Other evidence suggests that sperm stored in the ventral receptacle respond to EST 6 levels and control remating time. As the first mate of a female who will remate, null-EST 6 males have, under laboratory conditions, a significantly higher fitness than males carrying active alleles. Thus the absence of null alleles of EST 6 in natural populations presents a dilemma suggesting that the remating effect of EST 6 may be balanced by other effects on reproduction.
黑腹果蝇中的酯酶6（EST 6）是一种雄性生殖酶，作为精液的组成部分转移到雌性体内[里士满，R.C.，吉尔伯特，D.G.，希恩，K.B.，格罗姆科，M.H.，和巴特沃思，F.W.（1980年）。《科学》207:1483 - 1485]。在此我们报告对EST 6与雌性再次交配之间关系的研究。在一个为缩短再次交配时间而选择的品系中，EST 6的活性高于对照水平。与携带无效或活性等位基因的雄性交配后的受精雌性在再次交配的时间上没有差异，然而，与EST 6活性雄性交配后的雌性比与无效雄性交配后的雌性显著更早再次交配。中断交配实验表明，再次交配的效果并非仅由EST 6导致，而是需要射精的其他成分。其他证据表明，储存在腹侧受精囊中的精子对EST 6水平有反应并控制再次交配时间。作为会再次交配的雌性的首个配偶，在实验室条件下，EST 6无效的雄性比携带活性等位基因的雄性具有显著更高的适应性。因此，自然种群中EST 6无效等位基因的缺失呈现出一个困境，这表明EST 6的再次交配效果可能被对繁殖的其他影响所平衡。
