Females translate male mRNA transferred during mating

Although RNA is found in the seminal fluid of diverse organisms, it is unknown whether it is functional within females. We developed a proteomic method (VESPA, Variant Enabled SILAC Proteomic Analysis) to test the hypothesis that Drosophila male seminal fluid RNA is translated by females. We found 6...

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Published iniScience Vol. 27; no. 8; p. 110442
Main Authors Matzkin, Luciano M., Bono, Jeremy M., Pigage, Helen K., Allan, Carson W., Diaz, Fernando, McCoy, John R., Green, Clinton C., Callan, Jeffrey B., Delahunt, Stephen P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 16.08.2024
Elsevier
Subjects
Health sciences
Immunity
Machine learning
Mathematical biosciences
Virology
Health sciences
Mathematical biosciences
Immunity
Machine learning
Virology
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Summary:Although RNA is found in the seminal fluid of diverse organisms, it is unknown whether it is functional within females. We developed a proteomic method (VESPA, Variant Enabled SILAC Proteomic Analysis) to test the hypothesis that Drosophila male seminal fluid RNA is translated by females. We found 67 male-derived, female-translated proteins (mdFTPs) in female lower reproductive tracts, many with predicted functions relevant to reproduction. Knockout experiments indicate that mdFTPs play diverse roles in postmating interactions, affecting fertilization success, and the formation/persistence of the insemination reaction mass, a trait hypothesized to be involved in sexual conflict. These findings advance our understanding of reproduction by revealing a mechanism of postmating molecular interactions between the sexes that strengthens and extends male influences on reproduction in previously unrecognized ways. Given the diverse species that carry RNA in seminal fluid, this discovery has broad significance for understanding molecular mechanisms of cooperation and conflict during reproduction. [Display omitted] •Coding and non-coding RNA are a common feature of male seminal fluid•We developed an experimental approach to investigate the role of transferred RNA•Male-derived female-translated proteins (mdFTPs) contribute to proteome of females•mdFTPs have significant functional effects on reproductive phenotypes Health sciences; Immunity; Virology; Mathematical biosciences; Machine learning
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Present address: Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, USA
Present address: Graduate Professional Studies, Rabb School of Continuing Studies, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
These authors contributed equally
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ISSN:2589-0042
2589-0042
DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2024.110442