PgmNr D1413: Evolutionary cooperativity between mating position and rotation of male genitalia in Diptera.

Authors:
I. Momoko 1 ; C. Sakuma 2 ; H. Kanuka 2 ; K. Matsuno 1


Institutes
1) Osaka Univ., Osaka , JP; 2) The Jikei Univ. Sch. of Med., Tokyo, JP.


Keyword: evolution and development

Abstract:

In many cases, animal behavior depends on morphology.  Thus, during evolution, morphology and behavior should change cooperatively.  However, the mechanisms of such cooperative evolution are hardly understood.  For example, dipteran insects, Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti (mosquitoes) have two typical mating positions, male-above and end-to-end positions, respectively.  In these two mating positions, dorsal-ventral direction of the male genitalia is upside-down with respect to female genitalia.  However, the genitalia of Drosophila and Aedes rotate 360 and 180 degree, respectively, which compromises the upside-down direction of male genitalia associated with the evolution of mating position.  

In this study, we attempted to analyze the cooperative evolution between the genitalia rotation and mating position during the evolution of dipteran insects.  In Drosophila, Myosin31DF mutation affects the rotation of genitalia.  Using Myosin31DF mutant males with abnormally rotated genitalia, we found the proper direction of male genitalia is a prerequisite for mating in Drosophila, suggesting potential cooperative evolution of them. 

Currently, we are making Myosin31DF mutant mosquitoes by CRISPR/Cas system to obtain male mosquitos with abnormally rotated genitalia.  The effects of abnormally rotated genitalia on the end-to-end mating position will be analyzed.  Comparative analyses involving Drosophila, Aedes, and other dipteran insects should provide us important insights into the cooperative evolution of animal morphology and behavior.



Flybase Genetic Index:
1. FlyBase gene symbol: Myosin31DF; FBgn: FBgn0086347