The Drosophila bag of marbles Gene Interacts Genetically with Wolbachia and Shows Female-Specific Effects of Divergence

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005453
• Publication Date: 2015-08-20T18:02:26Z
• Authors: Heather A. Flores; Jaclyn E. Bubnell; Charles F. Aquadro; Daniel A. Barbash
• Keywords: Melanogaster

Many reproductive proteins from diverse taxa evolve rapidly and adaptively. These are typically involved in late stages of reproduction such as sperm development fertilization, more often functional males than females. Surprisingly, many germline stem cell (GSC) regulatory genes, which essential for the earliest reproduction, also adaptively Drosophila. One example is bag marbles (bam) gene, required GSC differentiation cyst females regulating mitotic divisions entry to spermatocyte males. Here we show that extensive divergence bam between Drosophila melanogaster D. simulans affects function but has no apparent effect We further find infection with Wolbachia pipientis, an endosymbiotic bacterium can affect host through various mechanisms, partially suppresses female sterility caused by mutations interacts differentially orthologs simulans. propose adaptive evolution been driven at least part long-term interactions species Wolbachia. More generally, suggest microbial infections may explain unexpected pattern several genes.