Regulation of male fertility and accessory gland gene expression by the Drosophila HR39 nuclear receptor

Successful reproduction is dependent on the transfer of male seminal proteins to females upon mating. These proteins arise from secretory tissues in the male reproductive tract, including the prostate and seminal vesicles in mammals and the accessory gland in insects. Although detailed functional st...

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Published in:	Developmental biology Vol. 479; pp. 51 - 60
Main Authors:	Praggastis, Sophia A., Nam, Hyuck-Jin, Lam, Geanette, Child VI, Myron B., Castillo, Dean M., Thummel, Carl S.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Elsevier Inc 01-11-2021
Subjects:	Accessory gland Animals DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism Drosophila Proteins - genetics Drosophila Proteins - metabolism Fertility Fertility - genetics Gene Expression - genetics Gene Expression Regulation - genetics Gene regulation Genitalia, Male - metabolism Infertility, Male - genetics Infertility, Male - metabolism Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism Male Nuclear receptors Prostate - metabolism Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear - genetics Receptors, Steroid - genetics Receptors, Steroid - metabolism Reproduction - genetics Accessory gland Nuclear receptors Fertility Gene regulation
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Summary:	Successful reproduction is dependent on the transfer of male seminal proteins to females upon mating. These proteins arise from secretory tissues in the male reproductive tract, including the prostate and seminal vesicles in mammals and the accessory gland in insects. Although detailed functional studies have provided important insights into the mechanisms by which accessory gland proteins support reproduction, much less is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate their expression within this tissue. Here we show that the Drosophila HR39 nuclear receptor is required for the proper expression of most genes that encode male accessory gland proteins. Consistent with this role, HR39 mutant males are infertile. In addition, tissue-specific RNAi and genetic rescue experiments indicate that HR39 acts within the accessory glands to regulate gene expression and male fertility. These results provide new directions for characterizing the mammalian orthologs of HR39, the SF-1 and LRH-1 nuclear receptors, both of which are required for glandular secretions and reproduction. In addition, our studies provide a molecular mechanism to explain how the accessory glands can maintain the abundant levels of seminal fluid production required to support fertility. [Display omitted] •The Drosophila HR39 nuclear receptor is required for male fertility.•HR39 acts in the accessory glands to maintain fertility.•HR39 regulates the expression of most genes that encode accessory gland proteins.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Current address: Regeneron, 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591
ISSN:	0012-1606 1095-564X
DOI:	10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.07.011