Mating stimulates protein phosphorylation and synthesis via rapamycin- and wortmannin-sensitive pathways in the male accessory glands of D-melanogaster

Abstract

Mating increases protein synthesis in the Drosophila male accessory glands. To elucidate the components involved in the stimulation of protein synthesis, mating-induced phosphorylation of accessory gland proteins was examined. Mating prominently stimulates the phosphorylation of two proteins (Mr 20,000 and 30,000), which are inferred to be Drosophila eIF-4E binding protein (d4E-BP) and ribosomal protein S6. The stimulated phosphorylation corresponded with protein synthesis, and was inhibited by rapamycin and wortmannin. Furthermore, mating increased phosphorylation of d4E-BP and S6, the dissociation of d4E-BP from eIF-4E, and S6 kinase activity. Collectively, these findings suggest that d4E-BP and S6 mediate the stimulation of protein synthesis by mating in Drosophila.