Title: | Regulation of behavioral and pheromonal aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster by the Sex-lethal gene |
Address: | "Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122" |
DOI: | 10.1093/genetics/123.3.535 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0016-6731 (Print) 0016-6731 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "We have shown that the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene, which controls morphological aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster, also regulates sexual behavior. Chromosomal males that are hemizygous for a deletion of the entire Sxl locus perform normal courtship and synthesize the two courtship-inhibiting pheromones that normal males make. However, ectopic expression of female-specific Sex-lethal gene products drastically alters chromosomal males' ability to perform and elicit courtship and increases the probability that they will synthesize a courtship-stimulating pheromone or fail to synthesize one of the inhibitory pheromones. These observations suggest that male sexual behavior is a consequence of the Sxl gene's being functionally inactive in haplo-X flies" |
Keywords: | "Animals Copulation Courtship Drosophila melanogaster/genetics Gene Expression Regulation/*physiology Genes, Lethal/*physiology Male Pheromones/*biosynthesis Sex Attractants/*biosynthesis *Sex Determination Analysis Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology;" |
Notes: | "MedlineTompkins, L McRobert, S P eng GM33511/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1989/11/01 Genetics. 1989 Nov; 123(3):535-41. doi: 10.1093/genetics/123.3.535" |