Drosophila oocyte proteome composition covaries with female mating status

Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 4;11(1):3142. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82801-4.

Abstract

Oocyte composition can directly influence offspring fitness, particularly in oviparous species such as most insects, where it is the primary form of parental investment. Oocyte production is also energetically costly, dependent on female condition and responsive to external cues. Here, we investigated whether mating influences mature oocyte composition in Drosophila melanogaster using a quantitative proteomic approach. Our analyses robustly identified 4,485 oocyte proteins and revealed that stage-14 oocytes from mated females differed significantly in protein composition relative to oocytes from unmated females. Proteins forming a highly interconnected network enriched for translational machinery and transmembrane proteins were increased in oocytes from mated females, including calcium binding and transport proteins. This mating-induced modulation of oocyte maturation was also significantly associated with proteome changes that are known to be triggered by egg activation. We propose that these compositional changes are likely to have fitness consequences and adaptive implications given the importance of oocyte protein composition, rather than active gene expression, to the maternal-to-zygotic transition and early embryogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / classification
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / classification
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Copulation / physiology
  • Drosophila Proteins / classification
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fertilization / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Ontology
  • Genetic Fitness
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / classification
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Annotation
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Oocytes / growth & development
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • Oogenesis / genetics*
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteome / classification
  • Proteome / genetics*
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Spermatozoa / cytology
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Zygote / cytology
  • Zygote / growth & development
  • Zygote / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proteome