Insect Seminal Fluid Proteins: Identification and Function

• Published in: Annual review of entomology 2011-01, Vol.56 (1), p.21-40
• Main Authors: Avila, Frank W, Sirot, Laura K, LaFlamme, Brooke A, Rubinstein, C. Dustin, Wolfner, Mariana F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; antimicrobial properties; Biological and medical sciences; feeding behavior; Female; female fertility; female reproductive system; females; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression regulation; insect behavior; insect physiology; insect proteins; Insect Proteins - isolation & purification; Insect Proteins - physiology; Insecta; Insecta - chemistry; Insecta - physiology; insects; Invertebrates; literature reviews; Male; male reproductive system; mating behavior; mating frequency; oogenesis; physiological regulation; seminal fluid proteins; Seminal Plasma Proteins - isolation & purification; Seminal Plasma Proteins - physiology; Sexual Behavior, Animal; species differences; sperm competition; transcription (genetics); transcriptomics
• ISSN: 0066-4170; 1545-4487
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120709-144823

Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) produced in reproductive tract tissues of male insects and transferred to females during mating induce numerous physiological and behavioral postmating changes in females. These changes include decreasing receptivity to remating; affecting sperm storage parameters; increasing egg production; and modulating sperm competition, feeding behaviors, and mating plug formation. In addition, SFPs also have antimicrobial functions and induce expression of antimicrobial peptides in at least some insects. Here, we review recent identification of insect SFPs and discuss the multiple roles these proteins play in the postmating processes of female insects.