Desaturase1 (desat1) is one of the few genes known to be involved in the two complementary aspects of sensory communication — signal emission and signal reception — in Drosophila melanogaster. In particular, desat1 is necessary for the biosynthesis of major cuticular pheromones in both males and females. It is also involved in the male ability to discriminate sex pheromones. Each of these two sensory communication aspects depends on distinct desat1 putative regulatory regions. Here, we used (i) mutant alleles resulting from the insertion/excision of a transposable genomic element inserted in a desat1 regulatory region, and (ii) transgenics made with desat1 regulatory regions used to target desat1 RNAi. These genetic variants were used to study several reproduction-related phenotypes. In particular, we compared the fecundity of various mutant and transgenic desat1 females with regard to the developmental fate of their progeny. We also compared the mating performance in pairs of flies with altered desat1 expression in various desat1-expressing tissues together with their inability to disengage at the end of copulation. Moreover, we investigated the developmental origin of altered sex pheromone discrimination in male flies. We attempted to map some of the tissues involved in these reproduction-related phenotypes. Given that desat1 is expressed in many brain neurons and in non-neuronal tissues required for varied aspects of reproduction, our data suggest that the regulation of this gene has evolved to allow the optimal reproduction and a successful adaptation to varied environments in this cosmopolitan species.

Desaturase1（desat1）是已知参与果蝇黑皮病感官交流两个互补方面（信号发射和信号接收）的少数基因之一。。特别地，desat1对于雄性和雌性中主要表皮信息素的生物合成都是必需的。它也与男性区分性信息素的能力有关。这两个感官交流方面的每一个都取决于不同的预期调节区域。在这里，我们使用了（i）由插入/缺失desat1调控区的转座基因组元件的插入/切除而产生的突变等位基因，以及（ii）用针对desat1 RNAi的desat1调控区制成的转基因。这些遗传变异用于研究几种与繁殖有关的表型。特别是，我们比较了各种突变体和转基因desat1雌性在子代发育方面的繁殖力。我们还比较了成对成对的苍蝇的交配性能，这些苍蝇在各种表达desat1的组织中具有改变的desat1表达，以及它们在交配结束时无法分离。此外，我们调查了雄性果蝇中性信息素歧视改变的发展起源。我们试图绘制一些与这些生殖相关表型有关的组织图。考虑到desa​​t1在生殖的各个方面所需要的许多大脑神经元和非神经元组织中表达，我们的数据表明，该基因的调控已进化为能够最佳繁殖并成功适应这一世界性物种的不同环境。我们调查了雄性果蝇中性信息素歧视改变的发展起源。我们试图绘制一些与这些生殖相关表型有关的组织图。考虑到desa​​t1在生殖的各个方面所需要的许多大脑神经元和非神经元组织中表达，我们的数据表明，该基因的调控已进化为能够最佳繁殖并成功适应这一世界性物种的不同环境。我们调查了雄性果蝇中性信息素歧视改变的发展起源。我们试图绘制一些与这些生殖相关表型有关的组织图。考虑到desa​​t1在生殖的各个方面所需要的许多大脑神经元和非神经元组织中表达，我们的数据表明，该基因的调控已进化为能够最佳繁殖并成功适应这一世界性物种的不同环境。