The allocation of resources to the production of one sex or another has been observed in a large variety of animals. Its theoretical basis allows accurate predictions of offspring sex ratios in many species, but the mechanisms by which sex allocation is controlled are poorly understood. Using previously published data, we investigated whether alternative splicing, combined with differential gene expression, was involved with sex allocation in the parasitoid wasp, Nasonia vitripennis . We found that sex allocation is not controlled by alternative splicing but changes in gene and transcript‐specific expression, which were identified to be involved with oviposition, were shown to be similar to those involved in sperm motility and capacitation. Genes involved in cholesterol efflux, a key component of capacitation, along with calcium transport, neurotransmission, trypsin, and MAPKinase activity were regulated in ovipositing wasps. The results show evidence for regulation of sperm motility and of capacitation in an insect which, in the context of the physiology of the N. vitripennis spermatheca, could be important for sex allocation.

中文翻译：

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寄生蜂黄蜂（Nasonia vitripennis）中获能的证据及其在性别分配中的潜在作用。

在各种各样的动物中都观察到将资源分配给一种或另一种性别。它的理论基础可以准确预测许多物种的后代性别比率，但对性别分配控制的机制了解甚少。使用以前发表的数据，我们调查了选择性剪接结合差异基因表达是否与拟南芥黄蜂（Nasonia vitripennis）的性别分配有关。我们发现性别分配不受替代剪接的控制，但是基因和转录本特异性表达的变化被认为与产卵有关，与精子活力和获能有关。在产卵的黄蜂中，与胆固醇外排有关的基因（钙的获能的关键组成部分）与钙转运，神经传递，胰蛋白酶和MAPKinase活性一起受到调节。结果表明，调节昆虫精子活力和获能的证据表明，在昆虫视紫薇精子的生理学背景下，这对于性别分配很重要。