Diversification of takeout, a male-biased gene family in Drosophila

Abstract

The display of courtship behavior has evolved in response to sexual selection driven by competition to obtain mates. Sexually dimorphic mate selection rituals are likely controlled at least in part by genes with sex-biased patterns of expression. In Drosophila melanogaster, male courtship behavior has been well described and consists of a series of stereotyped behaviors. The takeout gene is predominantly expressed in males and affects male courtship behavior. In this study, we examine the patterns of expression and evolution in takeout and the family of related proteins. We show that a number of genes in the takeout gene family show male-biased expression in D. melanogaster, largely in non-reproductive tissues. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that this gene family is conserved across insects. As expected for genes with male-biased expression, we also find evidence of positive selection in some lineages. Our results suggest that the genes in this family may have evolutionarily conserved sex specific roles in male mating behavior across insects.