Deletions in the desaturase2 gene in Israeli populations of Drosophila melanogaster: possible role in mate recognition

Abstract

Molecular analysis of the desaturase2 (desat2) gene responsible for female cuticular hydrocarbon synthesis, revealed that all tested Israeli populations of Drosophila melanogaster belong to the 'Low' type (low ratio of 5,9-/7,11-heptacosadiene) with a 16 bp deletion in the promoter region. Additional deletion leading to the appearance of the stop-codon TGA was found in exon 1 in populations inhabiting opposite slopes at Nahal Oren canyon. Mating experiments between carriers of various desat2 alleles estimated the putative effect of desat2 status on courtship behaviour. The allele with an additional deletion in exon 1 seems to play some role in mating success, which is associated with shorter courtship latency and courtship duration. The appearance and maintenance of this mutant allele in populations inhabiting Nahal Oren canyon may reflect flies' adaptation to peculiar microscale climatic conditions and may be associated with incipient sympatric differentiation.

INHIBITION OF FATTY ACID DESATURASES IN Drosophila melanogaster LARVAE BLOCKS FEEDING AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESSION

“…Desat F, finally, is expressed only in adult females and does not seem to play a role in general lipid metabolism (Chertemps et al., ). To date, the role of these fatty acid desaturases in communication between males and females has been reported extensively (Zamorzaeva et al., ; Bousquet and Ferveur, ). Here, we report on the effects of CAY10566 on larval metabolism and growth.…”

Genome differentiation of Drosophila melanogaster from a microclimate contrast in Evolution Canyon, Israel

“…Interslope migration of flies is easy and was verified by capture-recapture tests in the field (17). Despite sympatric settings, significant genetic divergence was documented between D. melanogaster populations inhabiting the opposite slopes, including such traits as thermal and drought tolerances, longevity, viability, habitat choice (preferences in oviposition temperature), mate choice (tendency to positive assortative mating), and peculiarities in sexual behavior and courtship song signals, microsatellites, P-element insertions, sequence polymorphism of some candidate behavioral genes and induced expression of heat shock-related genes in response to high temperature treatment (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28).…”