CHARACTERIZING MALE DROSOPHILA EXOSOME NUMBER VARIATION AND ITS ROLE IN REPRODUCTION
Evolution has given rise to diverse modes of chemical communication between males and females at all stages of reproduction. One mode is the transfer of exosomes from males to females during mating. Exosomes are lipid-bound vesicles that package RNAs, proteins, and ligands involved in cell signaling, and are found in seminal fluid of mammals and Drosophila. In Drosophila, reproductive exosomes are formed in the secondary cells of the male accessory gland. These exosomes interact with sperm tails and the female reproductive tract, potentially transferring their cargo. Drosophila seminal exosomes were implicated to impact sperm competition outcomes and female remating receptivity. While exosomes are implicated in many biological processes, their function in reproductive outcomes is unclear. Here, we investigated natural variation in exosome abundance in Drosophila and used a Genome-Wide Association Study to identify genetic variants associated with exosomes, taking a first step toward understanding their direct role in reproductive outcomes.