normal function of a speciation gene, Odysseus, and its hybrid sterility effect

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 305; no. 5680; pp. 81 - 83
• Main Authors: Sun, S, Ting, C.T, Wu, C.I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 02.07.2004; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Evolution; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Coding; Drosophila - genetics; Drosophila - physiology; Drosophila mauritiana; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila melanogaster - physiology; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - physiology; Drosophila simulans; Evolutionary genetics; Female; Fertility - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Targeting; gene transfer; Genes; Genes, Homeobox; Genes, Insect; Genetic aspects; Genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - physiology; homeotic genes; Hybridity; Hybridization; Hybridization, Genetic; hybrids; In Situ Hybridization; Infertility; insect reproduction; introgression; Invertebrata; knockout mutants; Male; Male animals; Male fertility; Male infertility; Males; Mating behavior; messenger RNA; Observation; OdsH gene; Origin of species; Phenotype; postmating isolation; Properties; Reproduction; Reproduction - genetics; Speciation; sperm motility; Spermatogenesis - genetics; Spermatozoa; Statistical Analysis; Testes; Testis - metabolism; Transcripts (Written Records); Transformation, Genetic; Transgenes; transgenic insects; Drosophila simulans; Arthropoda; Insecta; Homeotic gene; Male sterility; Invertebrata; Diptera; Speciation; Drosophilidae
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1093904

To understand how postmating isolation is connected to the normal process of species divergence and why hybrid male sterility is often the first sign of speciation, we analyzed the Odysseus (OdsH) gene of hybrid male sterility in Drosophila. We carried out expression analysis, transgenic study, and gene knockout. The combined evidence suggests that the sterility phenotype represents a novel manifestation of the gene function rather than the reduction or loss of the normal one. The gene knockout experiment identified the normal function of OdsH as a modest enhancement of sperm production in young males. The implication of a weak effect of OdsH on the normal phenotype but a strong influence on hybrid male sterility is discussed in light of Haldane's rule of postmating isolation.