DOI

Reproductive isolation is the key attribute of biological species and establishment of the reproductive barriers is an essential event for speciation. Among the mechanisms of reproductive isolation, gamete incompatibility due to the variability of gamete interaction proteins may drive fast divergence even in sympatry. However, the number of available models to study this phenomenon is limited. In case of internally fertilized invertebrates, models to study gamete incompatibility and sperm competition mechanisms are restricted to a single taxon: insects. Here, we propose a group of closely related Littorina species as a new model for such studies. Particularly since periwinkles are already thoroughly studied in terms of morphology, physiology, ecology, phylogeny, and ecological speciation. Earlier, we have identified the first species-specific Littorina sperm protein (LOSP) with no known conservative domains or homologies. LOSP is relatively abundant component of sperm extracts and might be involved in gamete incompatibility. Here, we characterize its definitive localization and mRNA expression pattern in the male reproductive system by immunocytochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization. We demonstrate that LOSP distribution is limited to the parasperm cells. Losp gene expression occurs only at the early stages of parasperm development. The protein is stored within granules of mature parasperm and, most likely, is released after ejaculation inside female reproductive system. Thus, LOSP is the only described molluscan paraspermal protein to date, and there is a possibility for LOSP to be involved in gamete incompatibility since heterospermy is a common phenomenon among Littorina.

Translated title of the contributionLOSP: предпологаемый маркер параспермальной клеточной линии в мужской репродуктивной системе переднежаберного моллюска L. obtusata: LOSP - первый параспермальный белок моллюсков
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-201
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution
Volume330
Issue number4
Early online date11 May 2018
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2018

    Research areas

  • heterospermy, Littorina, LOSP, parasperm, reproductive isolation, reproductive proteins, seminal fluids

    Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Developmental Biology

ID: 19069537