A new elongase selectively expressed in Drosophila male reproductive system

We have identified an elongase gene, elo68α, which is specifically transcribed in males. We have characterized the elo68α open reading frame, expressed it in fasΔ elo1Δ yeast and showed that it could elongate myristoleic and palmitoleic acids, therefore sharing an Elo1 specificity. This elongase was found to be exclusively expressed in male genital system (testis and ejaculatory bulb). Northern blot analysis showed that the elo68α gene was inducible at low temperatures. One P-strain mutant for elo68α and three excision lines for this P-element were subsequently studied. The excision line with only 1% elo68α expression showed decreased levels of vaccenyl acetate, a male pheromone produced in the ejaculatory bulb. The induction of elo68α expression at 21 °C was also paralleled with higher vaccenyl acetate production. These results strongly suggest that elo68α is involved in the elongation of short unsaturated fatty acids in males and might play a role in vaccenyl acetate biosynthesis.