The binding of sex peptide to 50 nm filaments of male accessory glands of Drosophila melanogaster

To understand the physiology of reproduction in animals, the study of filaments and secondary cells will play an important role in Drosophila species and binding of 50 nm filaments of the male accessory gland of Drosophila melanogaster. These MAGs are found in the sperm storage organs of the male right after mating. Mass spectrometry of the filaments was performed. However, no ions were detected. The male accessory gland of three species i.e. Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Suzuki and Drosophila subobscura were stained with sex peptide (SP) affirmers. After affirmer staining, secondary cells were seen. However, in D. melanogaster secondary cells were not seen but in D. Suzuki and D. subobscura it was observed. Secondary cells play an important role in female post-mating response and it is a first report that the secondary cells were observed in D. Suzuki and D. subobscura. For the long-term storage of sex peptides, the secondary cells have different proteins (Ravi Ram and Wolfner, 2009; Gligorov et al., 2013) and are transferred to females during mating. Earlier work has discovered that from the Male accessory gland of D. melanogaster sex peptide was isolated which in virgin females induces the physiological and behavioral changes

In the future, we can carry out the mass spectrometry by extracting more filaments from more flies and check the quality by the electron microscope, which will thereby be confirming that the sex peptides are associated with the filaments. Moreover, we can follow the transport of sex peptide in the female reproductive tract and can also use gold-labelled affirmer to investigate sex peptide binding to the filaments. If there is enough time we can go for more controls, for example- preincubating affirmer with synthetic SP before adding to the MAGs

Author(s): Vidhi Berdia

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