Females translate male mRNA transferred during mating

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Seminal fluid in many species contains RNA, but its function within females remains largely unknown.
• Understanding molecular interactions between sexes postmating is crucial for reproductive success and evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if male seminal fluid RNA is functional and translated by females in *Drosophila*.
• To identify and characterize male-derived proteins translated by females from seminal fluid RNA.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel proteomic method, Variant Enabled SILAC Proteomic Analysis (VESPA).
• Application of VESPA to quantify male-derived proteins in female reproductive tracts.
• Utilizing knockout experiments to assess the functional roles of identified proteins.

Main Results:

• Identification of 67 male-derived, female-translated proteins (mdFTPs) in female lower reproductive tracts.
• Many mdFTPs possess predicted functions relevant to reproductive processes.
• mdFTPs were found to influence fertilization success and the formation/persistence of the insemination reaction mass.

Conclusions:

• Male seminal fluid RNA can be translated by females, leading to functional proteins that impact reproduction.
• These findings reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism of postmating molecular interaction, influencing sexual conflict and cooperation.
• The discovery has broad implications for understanding reproductive strategies and molecular communication between sexes in diverse species.