Title: | Genetic feminization of pheromones and its behavioral consequences in Drosophila males |
Author(s): | Ferveur JF; Savarit F; O'Kane CJ; Sureau G; Greenspan RJ; Jallon JM; |
Address: | "Mecanismes de communication, Unite de Recherche Associee-CNRS 1491, Batiment 446, Universite Paris-Sud, 91405, Orsay-Cedex, France. ferveur@ext.jussieu.fr" |
DOI: | 10.1126/science.276.5318.1555 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0036-8075 (Print) 0036-8075 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Pheromones are intraspecific chemical signals important for mate attraction and discrimination. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, hydrocarbons on the cuticular surface of the animal are sexually dimorphic in both their occurrence and their effects: Female-specific molecules stimulate male sexual excitation, whereas the predominant male-specific molecule tends to inhibit male excitation. Complete feminization of the pheromone mixture produced by males was induced by targeted expression of the transformer gene in adult oenocytes (subcuticular abdominal cells) or by ubiquitous expression during early imaginal life. The resulting flies generally exhibited male heterosexual orientation but elicited homosexual courtship from other males" |
Keywords: | "Animals Drosophila Proteins Drosophila melanogaster Female Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Homosexuality Male Nuclear Proteins/genetics/physiology Recombinant Fusion Proteins Sex Attractants/genetics/*physiology *Sex Characteristics Sex Differen;" |
Notes: | "MedlineFerveur, J F Savarit, F O'Kane, C J Sureau, G Greenspan, R J Jallon, J M eng Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 1997/06/06 Science. 1997 Jun 6; 276(5318):1555-8. doi: 10.1126/science.276.5318.1555" |