Relationship between sexual phenotype and vitellogenins in 2X.3A intersexes of Drosophila melanogaster

In Drosophila, vitellogenins are yolk proteins. The purpose of this work is to examine whether there is a relationship between the various phenotypes of triploid intersexes (2X.3A) and the presence or absence of vitellogenins in the haemolymph. Vitellogenin content was assayed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot assays using a polyclonal serum and a monoclonal antibody specific for yolk proteins. This paper shows that the haemolymph of 2X.3A individuals, whose phenotype is not entirely transformed into female, seems to lack vitellogenins. The slight reaction observed on immunoblots performed on haemolymph from intersexes, the phenotype of which is the closest to that of those totally transformed into female, is discussed.