| Title: | Co-adaptation of pheromone production and behavioural responses in Drosophila melanogaster males |
| Address: | "UMR-CNRS 8620, Universite de Paris-Sud, Orsay, France" |
| DOI: | 10.1017/s0016672399003936 |
| Abstract: | "In Drosophila melanogaster, male courtship behaviour is genetically controlled and is influenced by sex pheromones. 7-tricosene (7-T) induces a dose-dependent inhibition of male-male courtship, whereas 7,11-dienes stimulate male courtship of females. There is a geographical quantitative variation in the production of two predominant male hydrocarbons, 7-T and 7-pentacosene (7-P). We have previously found that 7-P, the main hydrocarbon from males of West African strains, stimulates males that mainly produce 7-T. Using both 'natural' and genetically engineered strains, we find that genetic factors coding for low levels of 7-P in males have co-evolved with factor(s) coding for male responses to high levels of 7-P. These two phenotypes are coded by factors on different chromosomes: the intraspecific polymorphism for the production of 7-T and 7-P is largely controlled by chromosome 2, whereas the variation in courtship towards 7-P-rich males is largely controlled by chromosome 3. The polymorphism of male courtship towards 7-P-rich males shows no correlation with the variation in male responses to female flies" |
| Keywords: | "Alkenes/metabolism Animals Data Interpretation, Statistical Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*metabolism Female Genetic Variation Male Sex Attractants/*biosynthesis/metabolism Sexual Behavior, Animal Species Specificity;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSureau, G Ferveur, J F eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 1999/12/10 Genet Res. 1999 Oct; 74(2):129-37. doi: 10.1017/s0016672399003936" |
