Investigating the roles of fatty acids and their derived lipids in male Drosophila fertility

Lipids in the seminal fluid contribute to various aspects of Drosophila sperm viability and function. They are independent of spermatogenesis but serve as structural components of sperm membranes and energy substrates for sperm motility and fertilization. The ejaculatory bulb of Drosophila melanogaster is at the terminal of its reproductive system and responsible for the production and storage of all fatty acids in the seminal fluid and the lipids derived from them. However, whether changes in the lipid composition of the seminal fluid during aging affect male fertility and underlying genetic mechanisms is unknown. This study will investigate the role of fatty acids and fatty-acid-derived lipids present in the seminal fluid in male fertility and the decline in fertility associated with aging. We will determine the roles of fatty-acids-derived lipids in the seminal fluid by comparing the ejaculatory bulb lipid profiles of 1-week(young) and 5-week(old) Drosophila. We will identify differences in fatty-acids-derived lipids composition and abundance between young and old Drosophila male files and identify the genetic changes underlying the differences in lipid synthesis. This study will give us a better understanding of the physiology of the Drosophila reproductive system.