从1 2S rRNA基因序列探讨8种鳄类的系统学关系

测得扬子鳄（Alligator sinensis）和暹罗鳄（Crocodylus siamensis）,的mtDNA12SrRNA基因片段的部分序列,与GenBank中的2种鳄及文献中4种鳄的12SrRNA基因相应片段,经比对后构建系统树。其结果显示,现存鳄类为单系起源,可划分为3个科,即：鳄科、食鱼鳄科和假食鱼鳄科。食鱼鳄与假食鱼鳄亲缘关系较近,支持将假食鱼鳄作为食鱼鳄科的一个属,与以形态学为基础的研究结果不同。在钝吻鳄科中,扬子鳄与凯门鳄亲缘关系较远,而与密西西比鳄的亲缘关系虽较近,但它们的确存在很多差异。两者12SrRNA基因序列差异达12．12％,碱基的颠换数为9。在基于碱基转换和颠换的NJ系统树及仅基于碱基颠换的NJ系统树中,前者支持扬子鳄与密河鳄间的亲缘关系较近,而后者支持扬子鳄与凯门鳄间的亲缘关系较近,说明扬子鳄与密河鳄间亲缘关系是值得研究的问题。因本文仅根据12SrRNA基因部分序列来进行分析的,尚需进一步研究。     

乌龟线粒体全基因组序列和结构分析

龟鳖类同其它类群脊椎动物的系统进化关系一直存在争论。为进一步从分子水平上探讨这一问题,本文参照近源物种的线粒体基因组,设计了16对特异引物,采用PCR产物直接测序法测得了乌龟线粒体基因组全序列。结果表明:乌龟线粒体基因组序列全长16576bp,包括2个rRNA基因、22个tRNA基因、13个蛋白质编码基因和1个非编码控制区。乌龟线粒体基因组结构和基因排列顺序与其它龟鳖类相同,在“WANCY区”包含一个“stemloop”结构,ND3基因174位点存在一个额外插入的腺苷酸(A)。本文通过比较分析结构基因在主要脊椎动物类群中的排列顺序,探讨了龟鳖类与其它主要脊椎动物类群的系统进化关系     

鸮形目两种鸟类线粒体基因组全序列测定与比较研究

利用Long-PCR和Primer Walking结合克隆测序法对短耳鸮和长耳鸮线粒体基因组进行了全序列测定. 结果表明: 短耳鸮mtDNA序列全长为18858 bp, 长耳鸮mtDNA全长为18493 bp, 其中短耳鸮mtDNA是目前已知最长的鸟类线粒体基因组. 两种鸮类的基因组结构和基因排列顺序与家鸡相同, 无假控制区, 在ND3基因174位点都存在一个额外插入的胞苷酸(C). 控制区序列异常增大是造成这两种鸟类mtDNA增大的主要原因, 短耳鸮控制区长度为3288 bp, 长耳鸮为2926 bp, 这是目前已知的脊椎动物线粒体基因组中仅次于盲鳗的最大的控制区. 在其控制区3′端存在大量的串联重复序列, 分析发现这两种鸮类的重复序列和Mt5调控元件有较高的序列相似性, 且能形成多重的茎环二级结构, 这表明该重复序列可能具有一定的生理功能, 影响线粒体基因组的复制或转录表达, 从而使相应物种具有更大的选择优势, 以适应环境和生存竞争.     

脊椎动物线粒体DNA的基因重排

将GenBank上已公布的321种脊椎动物mtDNA全序列,按纲整理归类,绘制基因排布图并进行比对。比对结果表明：81个物种的mtDNA中观察到基因重排现象,涉及脊椎动物各纲,其中9个物种同时存在基因顺序变化和基因倒置现象,所有的基因重排都涉及tRNA的变化。脊椎动物mtDNA基因顺序变化可分为3类：1)邻接的基因或片段的位置交换;2)接近于控制序列或轻链起始位点的基因或片段的位置变化,有时还伴随着控制序列的倍增;3)I-Q-M区域的变化。所有鸟类、蛇类、鳄类和有袋类的mtDNA具有各自独特的基因排列顺序。基因倒置现象常见于鱼类和哺乳类,且多表现为tRNA从轻链往重链上迁移。本文就这些基因重排现象、发生重排的机制和mtDNA基因重排在系统发生研究中的应用做一简要概述。     

暗纹东方鲀线粒体基因组核苷酸全序列测定与分析

以暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu fasciatus)肝的线粒体DNA为模板,参照红鳍东方鲀(T.rubripes)等近源鱼类的线粒体基因组DNA序列,设计合成14对特异引物,进行PCR扩增并测序,首次获得了暗纹东方鲀线粒体基因组全序列。结果表明,暗纹东方鲀线粒体基因组序列全长16 444 bp(GenBank登录号为GQ409967),A+T含量为55.8%,其mtDNA结构与其他脊椎动物相似,由22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因、13个蛋白质编码基因和1段819 bp非编码的控制区(D-loop)所组成。蛋白质基因除COⅠ和ND6的起始密码子为GTG、CCT以外,均为典型的起始密码子ATG。ND1、ATPase8、COⅢ、ND4L、ND5、Cyt b使用典型的终止密码子TAA,其他的使用不完全终止密码子。除ND6和tRNAGln、tRNAAla、tRNAAsn、tRNACys、tRNATyr、tRNASer、tRNAGlu、tRNAPro在L-链上编码之外,其余基因均在H-链编码。基因排列顺序与已测定的鲀类一致,这显示了鲀类线粒体基因排列顺序上的保守性。tRNA基因核苷酸长度为64～73nt,预测了22个tRNA基因的二级结构,均呈较为典型的三叶草状。基于19种鲀类mtDNA全序列构建的进化树表明,暗纹东方鲀与红鳍东方鲀、中华东方鲀(T.chinensis)聚成一个姊妹群。结果还支持东方鲀属鱼类为一单系类群。     

枣食芽象甲线粒体基因组全序列测定与系统发育分析

【目的】从线粒体基因组水平上探讨枣食芽象甲Scythropus yasumatsui与近缘种的系统发育关系。【方法】利用Illumina MiSeq测序平台对枣食芽象甲线粒体基因组进行测序,对基因组序列进行拼装、注释和特征分析;利用贝叶斯法和最大似然法构建基于象甲科13个物种的线粒体基因组13个蛋白质编码基因核苷酸序列的系统发育树。【结果】结果表明,枣食芽象甲线粒体基因组全长为16 472 bp (GenBank登录号: MF807224),包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和2个非编码控制区,37个基因的排列顺序与祖先昆虫的线粒体基因排列顺序一致。13个蛋白质编码基因的起始密码子为ATN,其中除了cob和nad1基因的完全终止密码子为TAG外,其余11个基因的完全终止密码子为TA(A)。22个tRNA基因中除了trnS1缺少DHU臂,反密码子由GCT变为TCT外,其余均能形成典型的三叶草结构。基于13个蛋白质编码基因序列构建的系统发育树结果显示,象甲科8个亚科系统发育关系为：(((隐喙象亚科(Cryptorhynchinae)+(象虫亚科(Curculioninae)+魔喙象亚科(Molytinae)))+长小蠹亚科(Platypodinae))+(粗喙象亚科(Entiminae)+Cyclominae亚科))+隐颏象亚科(Dryophthorinae)+小蠹亚科(Scolytinae))。【结论】在13种象甲科昆虫物种中,同属于粗喙象亚科的枣食芽象甲与南美果树象甲Naupactus xanthographus在系统发育树中聚为同一分支,表明基于线粒体基因组全序列的分子系统发育结果与传统的形态分类结果是一致的。     

几种鳄分子系统发生的探讨

百年来关于扬子鳄的分类学位置存在着很多争议,本测得扬子鳄、暹罗鳄和湾鳄的mtDNA ND4和Cytb基因,并从GenBank中获得密西西比鳄和海龟的DN4基因和Cytb基因相应片段。用Clustal X1.8进行对位排列,以海龟为外群构建分子进化系统树。结果显示,在鳄类动物中,扬子鳄与密西西比鳄的亲缘关系最近,两ND4基因序列碱基差异的20．68％,而Cytb基因序列碱基差异为14．43％,但扬子鳄与密西西相比与鳄的分类问题仍将有待进一步探讨。     

应用线粒体 DNA 序列探讨羚牛分类地位

为探讨羚牛分类学地位,应用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)扩增了羚牛、绵羊、山羊和斑羚(青羊)线粒体DNA(mtDNA)细胞色素b基因(Cyt b gene),并测序,结合GenBank检索序列,对9种偶蹄类动物、1种奇蹄类动物Cyt b gene序列差异进行分析,构建了分子系统树(最优NJ树和唯一MP树)。通过本研究分析表明羚牛与羊亚科动物亲缘关系最近,将羚牛归入羊亚科较为合理。     

探讨两栖纲三个目之间的系统发生关系

现存两栖纲分为3个目,然而它们的系统发生关系仍存在较大的争议.选择Genbank上25种两栖动物线粒体全序列,结合已测定的福建大头蛙(Lim nonectes fujianensis)线粒体基因组全序列,以天鹅和眼镜凯门鳄为外群,用线粒体tRNA基因的合并数据重建系统树.采用P AU P(version 4.0b10)软件构建MP和NJ树,tree-puzzle5.2构建ML树.结果显示,NJ树和ML树以较高的自引导值支持有尾目和蚓螈目为姐妹群,而MP树则支持无尾目和有尾目为姐妹群.     

新西兰白兔线粒体基因组全序列的测定与分析

本研究旨在获得新西兰白兔(New Zealand white rabbit)线粒体DNA基因组全序列(mtDNA).根据GenBank已经公布的近缘物种穴兔mtDNA全基因组序列(GenBank登录号:AJ001588.1),设计12对可覆盖新西兰白兔mtDNA全序列的引物,通过PCR扩增、测序、拼接,获得新西兰白兔线粒体全序列,并分析其特点.新西兰白兔线粒体基因组全序列为17 418 bp,A+T含量高,为59.72％,蛋白编码基因数量为13个,rRNA基因数量为2个,tRNA基因数量为22个和1个非编码控制区(D-loop区),与其他兔属动物线粒体全基因组排列顺序一致.分析4种特殊的tRNA二级结构,发现tRNA-Ser(AGY)为二叶草型,缺失DHU臂,其余三种tRNA均为三叶草型.与其他哺乳动物线粒体基因组的D-loop区相比,新西兰白兔与格拉达野兔(Le-pus granatensis)核苷酸组成、编码偏好性和氨基酸组成较为相近.相比穴兔的线粒体基因组,新西兰白兔具有一定的保守性和异质性,该结果为其遗传种质资源保护和利用提供基础资料.     

Crocodilian phylogeny inferred from twelve mitochondrial protein-coding genes, with new complete mitochondrial genomic sequences for Crocodylus acutus and Crocodylus novaeguineae

We report complete mitochondrial genomic sequences for Crocodylus acutus and Crocodylus novaeguineae, whose gene orders match those of other crocodilians. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of 12 mitochondrial protein-coding genes support monophyly of two crocodilian taxonomic families, Alligatoridae (genera Alligator, Caiman, and Paleosuchus) and Crocodylidae (genera Crocodylus, Gavialis, Mecistops, Osteolaemus, and Tomistoma). Our results are consistent with monophyly of all crocodilian genera. Within Alligatoridae, genus Alligator is the sister taxon of a clade comprising Caiman and Paleosuchus. Within Crocodylidae, the basal phylogenetic split separates a clade comprising Gavialis and Tomistoma from a clade comprising Crocodylus, Mecistops, and Osteolaemus. Mecistops and Osteolaemus form the sister taxon to Crocodylus. Within Crocodylus, we sampled five Indopacific species, whose phylogenetic ordering is ((C. mindorensis, C. novaeguineae), (C. porosus, (C. siamensis, C. palustris))). The African species C. niloticus and New World species C. acutus form the sister taxon to the Indopacific species, although our sampling lacks three other New World species and an Australian species of Crocodylus.     

Sequencing three crocodilian genomes to illuminate the evolution of archosaurs and amniotes

The International Crocodilian Genomes Working Group (ICGWG) will sequence and assemble the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) genomes. The status of these projects and our planned analyses are described.     

Evidence for placing the false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) into the family Gavialidae: inferences from nuclear gene sequences

The extant crocodylians comprise 23 species divided among three families, Alligatoridae, Crocodylidae, and Gavialidae. Currently, based on morphological data sets, Tomistoma schlegelii (false gharial) is placed within the family Crocodylidae. Molecular data sets consistently support a sister-taxon relationship of T. schlegelii with Gavialis gangeticus (Indian Gharial), which is the sole species in Gavialidae. To elucidate the placement of T. schlegelii within the extant crocodylians, we have sequenced 352bp of the dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) nuclear gene in 30 individuals and 424bp of the nuclear gene C-mos in 74 individuals. Molecular analysis of the DMP1 data set indicates that it is highly conserved within the Crocodylia. Of special note is a seven base-pair indel (GTGCTTT) shared by T. schlegelii and G. gangeticus, that is absent in the genus Crocodylus, Osteolaemus, and Mecistops. To date, C-mos is the largest molecular data set analyzed for any crocodylian study including multiple samples from all representatives of the eight extant genera. Analysis of these molecular data sets, both as individual gene sequences and concatenated sequences, support the hypothesis that T. schlegelii should be placed within the family Gavialidae.     

Mitogenomic Analyses Place the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) on the Crocodile Tree and Provide Pre-K/T Divergence Times for Most Crocodilians

Based on morphological analyses, extant members of the order Crocodylia are divided into three families, Alligatoridae, Crocodylidae, and Gavialidae. Gavialidae includes one species, the gharial, Gavialis gangeticus. In this study we have examined crocodilian relationships in phylogenetic analyses of seven mitochondrial genomes that have been sequenced in their entirety. The analyses did not support the morphologically acknowledged separate position of the gharial in the crocodilian tree. Instead the gharial joined the false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) on a common branch that was shown to constitute a sister group to traditional Crocodylidae (less Tomistoma). Thus, the analyses suggest the recognition of only two Crocodylia families, Alligatoridae and Crocodylidae, with the latter encompassing traditional Crocodylidae plus Gavialis/Tomistoma. A molecular dating of the divergence between Alligatoridae and Crocodylidae suggests that this basal split among recent crocodilians took place ≈140 million years before present, at the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary. The results suggest that at least five crocodilian lineages survived the mass extinction at the KT boundary. [Reviewing Editor: Dr. Nicolas Galtier]     

Extended mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses yield new insight into crocodylian evolution and their survival of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary

The mitochondrial genomes of the dwarf crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis, and two species of dwarf caimans, the smooth-fronted caiman, Paleosuchus trigonatus, and Cuvier's dwarf caiman, Paleosuchus palpebrosus, were sequenced and included in a mitogenomic phylogenetic study. The phylogenetic analyses, which included a total of ten crocodylian species, yielded strong support to a basal split between Crocodylidae and Alligatoridae. Osteolaemus fell within the Crocodylidae as the sister group to Crocodylus. Gavialis and Tomistoma, which joined on a common branch, constituted a sister group to Crocodylus/Osteolaemus. This suggests that extant crocodylians are organized in two families: Alligatoridae and Crocodylidae. Within the Alligatoridae there was a basal split between Alligator and a branch that contained Paleosuchus and Caiman. The analyses also provided molecular estimates of various divergences applying recently established crocodylian and outgroup fossil calibration points. Molecular estimates based on amino acid data placed the divergence between Crocodylidae and Alligatoridae at 97-103 million years ago and that between Alligator and Caiman/Paleosuchus at 65-72 million years ago. Other crocodilian divergences were placed after the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. Thus, according to the molecular estimates, three extant crocodylian lineages have their roots in the Cretaceous. Considering the crocodylian diversification in the Cretaceous the molecular datings suggest that the extinction of the dinosaurs was also to some extent paralleled in the crocodylian evolution. However, for whatever reason, some crocodylian lineages survived into the Tertiary.     

True and false gharials: a nuclear gene phylogeny of crocodylia

The phylogeny of Crocodylia offers an unusual twist on the usual molecules versus morphology story. The true gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and the false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), as their common names imply, have appeared in all cladistic morphological analyses as distantly related species, convergent upon a similar morphology. In contrast, all previous molecular studies have shown them to be sister taxa. We present the first phylogenetic study of Crocodylia using a nuclear gene. We cloned and sequenced the c-myc proto-oncogene from Alligator mississippiensis to facilitate primer design and then sequenced an 1,100-base pair fragment that includes both coding and noncoding regions and informative indels for one species in each extant crocodylian genus and six avian outgroups. Phylogenetic analyses using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference all strongly agreed on the same tree, which is identical to the tree found in previous molecular analyses: Gavialis and Tomistoma are sister taxa and together are the sister group of Crocodylidae. Kishino-Hasegawa tests rejected the morphological tree in favor of the molecular tree. We excluded long-branch attraction and variation in base composition among taxa as explanations for this topology. To explore the causes of discrepancy between molecular and morphological estimates of crocodylian phylogeny, we examined puzzling features of the morphological data using a priori partitions of the data based on anatomical regions and investigated the effects of different coding schemes for two obvious morphological similarities of the two gharials.     

Repetitive sequences in the crocodilian mitochondrial control region: poly-A sequences and heteroplasmic tandem repeats

Heteroplasmic tandem repeats in the mitochondrial control region have been documented in a wide variety of vertebrate species. We have examined the control region from 11 species in the family Crocodylidae and identified two different types of heteroplasmic repetitive sequences in the conserved sequence block (CSB) domain-an extensive poly-A tract that appears to be involved in the formation of secondary structure and a series of tandem repeats located downstream ranging from approximately 50 to approximately 80 bp in length. We describe this portion of the crocodylian control region in detail and focus on members of the family Crocodylidae. We then address the origins of the tandemly repeated sequences in this family and suggest hypotheses to explain possible mechanisms of expansion/contraction of the sequences. We have also examined control region sequences from Alligator and Caiman and offer hypotheses for the origin of tandem repeats found in those taxa. Finally, we present a brief analysis of intraindividual and interindividual haplotype variation by examining representatives of Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii).     

Proton leak in hepatocytes and liver mitochondria from archosaurs (crocodiles) and allometric relationships for ectotherms

It has previously been shown that mitochondrial proton conductance decreases with increasing body mass in mammals and is lower in a 250-g lizard than the laboratory rat. To examine whether mitochondrial proton conductance is extremely low in very large reptiles, hepatocytes and mitochondria were prepared from saltwater crocodiles ( Crocodylus porosus) and freshwater crocodiles ( Crocodylus johnstoni). Respiration rates of hepatocytes and liver mitochondria were measured at 37 degrees C and compared with values obtained for rat or previously measured for other species. Respiration rates of hepatocytes from either species of crocodile were similar to those reported for lizards and approximately one fifth of the rates measured using cells from mammals (rat and sheep). Ten-to-thirty percent of crocodile hepatocyte respiration was used to drive mitochondrial proton leak, similar to the proportion in other species. Respiration rates of crocodile liver mitochondria were similar to those of mammalian species. Proton leak rate in isolated liver mitochondria was measured as a function of membrane potential. Contrary to our prediction, the mitochondrial proton conductance of liver mitochondria from crocodiles was greater than that of liver mitochondria from lizards and was similar to that of rats. The acyl composition of liver mitochondrial phospholipids from the crocodiles was more similar to that in mitochondria from rats than in mitochondria from lizards. The relatively high mitochondrial proton conductance was associated with a relatively small liver, which seems to be characteristic of crocodilians. Comparison of data from a number of diverse ectothermic species suggested that hepatocyte respiration rate may decrease with body mass, with an allometric exponent of about -0.2, similar to the exponent in mammalian hepatocytes. However, unlike mammals, liver mitochondrial proton conductance in ectotherms showed no allometric relationship with body size.     

A novel multiplex PCR assay for the identification of Indian crocodiles

Illegal hunting has been a major threat for the survival of wildlife fauna, including the three crocodile species that India harbours: Crocodylus palustris, Crocodylus porosus and Gavialis gangeticus. Although law prevents trade on these species, illicit hunting for trade continues to threaten the survival of these endangered species; conservation strategies therefore require a rapid molecular identification technique for Indian crocodiles. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with species-specific primers, considered as one of the most effective molecular techniques, is described herein. The primers were designed to yield species-specific sized amplicons. The assay discriminates the three Indian crocodile species unambiguously within a short time period using only simple agarose gel electrophoresis. We recommend this multiplex PCR assay to be used in the identification of Indian crocodile species.     

尼罗鳄线粒体基因组全序列分析及鳄类系统发生关系的探讨

大多数脊椎动物的线粒体基因组（约16—18kb）的组成是相对较稳定的,但在不同类群中,线粒体基因组在基因结构和基因排列方式等方面均显示了极大的多样性,这种多样性可能反映了真核细胞不同的进化路线（Saccone et al．,1999）。就目前的研究而言,线粒体基因组是惟一一个能够从基因组水平上来分析动物系统发生的分子标记,可以从线粒体基因组序列信息、基因组成及基因排列方式等进行多方位的分子进化研究,因而线粒体基因组全序列将成为动物分子系统发生最有力的证据（Saccone et al．,1999）。