Production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species both affect reproductive success in male and female Drosophila melanogaster

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Sperm aging is accelerated by the buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative damage to various cellular components. Aging can be slowed by limiting the production of mitochondrial ROS and by increasing the production of antioxidants, both of which can be generated in the sperm cell itself or in the surrounding somatic tissues of the male and female reproductive tracts. However, few studies have compared the separate contributions of ROS production and ROS scavenging to sperm aging, or to cellular aging in general. We measured reproductive fitness in two lines of Drosophila melanogaster genetically engineered to (1) produce fewer ROS via expression of alternative oxidase (AOX), an alternative respiratory pathway; or (2) scavenge fewer ROS due to a loss-of-function mutation in the antioxidant gene dj-1β. Wild-type females mated to AOX males had increased fecundity and longer fertility durations, consistent with slower aging in AOX sperm. Contrary to expectations, fitness was not reduced in wild-type females mated to dj-1β males. Fecundity and fertility duration were increased in AOX and decreased in dj-1β females, indicating that female ROS levels may affect aging rates in stored sperm and/or eggs. Finally, we found evidence that accelerated aging in dj-1β sperm may have selected for more frequent mating. Our results help to clarify the relative roles of ROS production and ROS scavenging in the male and female reproductive systems.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)379-396
Number of pages18
JournalBiogerontology
Volume22
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC8266701
Scopus 85105360188

Keywords

Keywords

  • Aging, Animals, Drosophila Proteins/genetics, Drosophila melanogaster/metabolism, Female, Male, Mitochondria/metabolism, Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism, Oxidative Stress, Protein Deglycase DJ-1/metabolism, Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism, Sperm aging, Alternative oxidase, DJ-1, Antioxidants, Oxygen radicals, dj-1β