两种纺织娘线粒体基因组的比较分析

目前关于螽斯科昆虫的线粒体基因组全序列及其分子进化的研究报道很少。本研究利用L-PCR技术结合嵌套步移PCR扩增获得纺织娘Mecopoda elongata和日本纺织娘M. niponensis的线粒体基因组全序列, 同时对二者之间的碱基组成和结构特点进行了比较分析。结果显示： 纺织娘线粒体基因组（GenBank登录号JQ917910）序列全长15 284 bp, A+T含量71.8%; 日本纺织娘线粒体基因组（GenBank登录号 JQ917909）序列全长15 364 bp, A+T含量72.4%; 2种纺织娘序列长度差异主要是控制区长度不同引起（纺织娘控制区长294 bp, 日本纺织娘控制区长393 bp）。2种纺织娘基因组基因含量、 相对位置及转录方向均与其他已报道的螽斯科昆虫一致, 未发现基因重排现象; 基因组中均存在较长的间隔序列, 在trnA/trnR之间的间隔序列长度分别为63 bp与68 bp, 在trnQ/trnM之间的分别为55 bp和26 bp, 在trnS^UCN/nad1之间的均为21 bp。而最长的基因重叠区域在2种纺织娘trnC/trnW之间均为8 bp, 在atp8/atp6和nad4L/nad4L之间均为7 bp。蛋白质编码基因的碱基组成和密码子使用均具有明显的偏倚性; 除nad1和nad2以特殊的TTG作为起始密码子, cox1使用特殊的起始密码子ATGA外, 其余的10种蛋白质编码基因均使用典型的ATN作为起始密码子。在tRNA基因中, 除trnS^AGN外, 均能折叠形成典型的三叶草形二级结构。在这些tRNA基因中均存在一定数目的以G-U错配为主的碱基错配, 类似现象同样存在于其他已测定的六足动物线粒体基因组中, 表明G-U配对在线粒体基因组中很可能是一种完全正常的碱基配对方式。基因组中控制区的A+T含量略低于线粒体基因组的其他区域, 表明高A+T含量并不是该区域的必要特征。本研究结果为螽斯科系统发生关系重建积累了有价值的数据资料。     

萧氏松茎象线粒体基因组全序列测定与分析

象甲是鞘翅目中物种最丰富的类群, 目前关于其线粒体基因组全序列的研究还未见报道。本研究利用长距PCR和引物步移法对萧氏松茎象Hylobitelus xiaoi Zhang线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定。结果显示： 萧氏松茎象线粒体基因组序列全长16 123 bp（GenBank登录号为JX847496）, 共编码37个基因和1个非编码的控制区, 基因次序与典型的六足动物线粒体基因排列一致, 未发现基因重排现象。在基因组中两个值得注意的发现分别是： 1）N链上存在1个额外的trnV-like序列, 反密码子为GAC, 长度为69 bp, 其中65 bp与J链上的trnD重叠; 2）trnS^UCN和nad1之间存在1个长度为232 bp的基因间隔区。全部13个蛋白质编码基因的起始密码子均为ATN, 9个蛋白质编码基因的终止密码子为TAA, 其余4个蛋白质编码基因中, nad1和cox2的终止密码子为TAG, nad4和nad5则以不完整的终止密码子T作为终止信号。除trnS^AGN外, 其余的tRNAs均可形成典型的三叶草结构。而trnS^AGN的反密码子由TCT替代GCT, 反密码子臂延长形成9 bp（中间含1个碱基突起）, TΨC臂由正常的5 bp变为6 bp, DHU臂缩短仅1 bp, 各个臂之间没有连接碱基。线粒体控制区中包括10处长度不少于5 bp的poly-T（最长poly-T长度为14 bp）和2处微卫星样重复序列 (TA)₆和(TA)₉。本研究结果为探讨象甲总科在鞘翅目中的系统学地位及其与其他总科间的系统发生关系等问题提供了重要的分子生物学数据。     

黑毛皮蠹线粒体基因组分析及皮蠹科系统发育分析

【目的】分析黑毛皮蠹Attagenus unicolor japonicus的线粒体基因组结构及皮蠹科的系统发育。【方法】本研究利用下一代测序方法测定了黑毛皮蠹的近完全线粒体基因组序列,并基于39种昆虫的cox1基因序列,通过最大似然法和贝叶斯法构建了皮蠹科的系统发育树。【结果】黑毛皮蠹线粒体基因组包含37个基因(2个rRNA基因,22个tRNA基因,13个蛋白质编码基因)和一段不完全的控制区,总长度为14 793 bp(GenBank登录号:MG017450)。基因排列顺序与已经发表的大多数昆虫线粒体基因组相同,不具有基因重排现象。13个蛋白质编码基因中除nad1和nad2之外其他基因的起始密码子均是典型的ATN,而nad1和nad2推断的起始密码子是TTG;除cox2,nad5及nad6基因终止密码子为不完全的终止密码子T外,其他蛋白质编码基因的终止密码子是典型的TAA或TAG。除了trnS1之外,所有的tRNAs均可形成典型的三叶草结构,trnS1缺少DHU臂而形成了一个简单的环,不能形成稳定的三叶草结构。trnS1的反密码子变成了UCU,而不是更常见的GCU。16S rRNA的二级结构包括5个结构域(第Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ和Ⅵ结构域),第Ⅲ结构域普遍缺失而变成一条单一的核苷酸链连接第Ⅱ和第Ⅳ结构域,共44个螺旋。12S rRNA的二级结构包括4个结构域,共27个螺旋,其中螺旋H47序列变异性较高,由一个长茎和一个大环组成。系统发育分析结果显示,皮蠹科内亚科级别的系统发育关系为:((长皮蠹亚科(Megatominae)+毛皮蠹亚科(Attageninae))+皮蠹亚科(Dermestinae))。【结论】皮蠹亚科(Dermestinae)、皮蠹属Dermestes及圆皮蠹属Anthrenus均为单系群,斑皮蠹属Trogoderma为多系群。皮蠹亚科Dermestinae和皮蠹科剩余的类群构成姐妹群。     

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。     

糙刺参（Stichopus horrens）线粒体基因组及一种新的基因排列顺序

线粒体基因组序列在后口动物进化研究中有着重要的作用.本研究使用PCR方法获得糙刺参（Stichopus horrens）线粒体全基因组序列.该序列全长16257bp,包含13个蛋白编码基因,22个tRNA基因和2个rRNA基因.除了一个蛋白编码基因（nad6）和5个tRNA基因（tRNASer（UCN）,tRNAGln,tRNAAla,tRNAVal,tRNAAsp）在轻链上编码外,其余的基因都在重链上编码.糙刺参线粒体重链碱基有30.8%A,23.7%C,16.2%G,和29.3%T构成.假定的线粒体控制区长675bp.基因间间隔碱基长1～50bp,共227bp.11个基因间有重叠碱基,长1～10bp,共25bp.13个蛋白编码基因起始密码子均为ATG,终止密码子大多为TAA（nad3和nad4的为TAG）.亮氨酸编码频率最高（16.29%）,随后是丝氨酸（10.34%）和苯丙氨酸（8.37%）.所有的22个tRNA基因均能折叠成三叶草结构.通过和其他4种海参的线粒体基因排列顺序比较,本研究发现糙刺参的线粒体基因排列顺序是一种新的排列方式.     

直翅目昆虫线粒体基因组研究进展

本文总结了本实验室对40余种直翅目昆虫的线粒体基因组序列的研究方法和主要结果.直翅目线粒体基因组研究中最重要的发现包括：（1）在直翅目昆虫线粒体基因组中发现了3种基因排列次序.蝗亚目除蜢总科外都具有DK排列.蜢总科的变色乌蜢为KD 排列,与蝗亚目其他总科不同,而与螽亚目昆虫的排序方式相同.已测出的螽亚目大多数昆虫的KD 排列顺序与典型节肢动物的完全相同,但在黄脸油葫芦Teleogryllus emma发生了tRNA^Glu,tRNA^Ser和tRNA^Asn的倒置;（2）在疑钩额螽Ruspolia dubia中发现了一种到目前为止具有最短控制区（70 bp）的线粒体基因组;（3）采用多种方法分析了昆虫A+T富集区存在的调控序列和二级结构特征,获得了昆虫A+T富集区保守序列的一致结构.采用Z曲线分析蝗虫的A+T富集区,表明也存在与原核生物复制起点类似的信号;（4）构建了30种蝗虫12S rRNA和16S rRNA的二级结构.在昆虫线粒体基因组非编码链中发现了一些类tRNA结构和tRNA异构体;（5）构建了基于线粒体基因组数据的直翅目昆虫主要亚科以上分类单元之间的系统发育关系.     

扬眉线蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列测定和分析

【目的】了解扬眉线蛱蝶Limenitis helmanni线粒体基因组结构及其分子系统发育。【方法】采用PCR步移法对扬眉线蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列进行测定和分析。基于线粒体基因组13个蛋白质编码基因和2个rRNA基因的核苷酸序列构建了66种鳞翅目昆虫的系统发育树。【结果】扬眉线蛱蝶线粒体基因组全长15 178 bp(Gen Bank登录号:KY290566),包括13个蛋白质编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和一段长度为346 bp的A+T富含区,基因排列顺序与其他已知近缘种昆虫相同。扬眉线蛱蝶线粒体基因组中存在很高的A+T含量(81.1%)。13个蛋白质编码基因中,COI以CGA作为起始密码子,ND5以GTT作为起始密码子,其余均以昆虫典型的ATN为起始密码子。COII和ND4基因使用了不完全终止密码子T,其余基因均以典型的TAA为终止密码子。在所测得的22个tRNA基因中,除tRNASer(AGN)缺少DHU臂外,其余tRNA均能形成典型的三叶草结构。与其他多数鳞翅目昆虫一样,扬眉线蛱蝶的A+T富含区中有一段由ATAGA引导的保守的多聚T结构,长度为20 bp,并散布着一些长短不一的串联重复单元。系统发育树结果显示,蛱蝶科亚科级别的系统发育关系为:(绢蛱蝶亚科+眼蝶亚科)+((蛱蝶亚科+闪蛱蝶亚科)+(釉蛱蝶亚科+线蛱蝶亚科))。【结论】线蛱蝶族与翠蛱蝶族的亲缘关系较近,丽蛱蝶族是该亚科较早分化出来的一支。基于线粒体基因组构建的线蛱蝶亚科物种系统发育关系与传统形态分类学研究结论不一致。     

黄脸油葫芦线粒体基因组:一种新的基因排列方式

采用长距PCR扩增及保守引物步移法测定并注释了黄脸油葫芦（Teleogryllus emma）线粒体基因组全序列。结果表明,黄脸油葫芦的线粒体基因组全长15 660 bp,A+T含量为73.1%。谷氨酸、色氨酸及天冬酰胺的转运RNA基因由N链编码,形成了直翅目中的第三种基因排列顺序,其余结构与其它螽亚目昆虫的线粒体结构一致。基因间隔序列共计73 bp,间隔长度从1—24 bp不等;有14对基因间存在共54 bp重叠,重叠碱基数在1—11 bp之间。13个蛋白质编码基因中12个基因（除COⅠ基因外）的起始密码为标准的ATN组成,COI基因的起始密码子为TTA。有10个基因在基因3＇端能找到完全的TAA或TAG终止密码子,而有三个基因（COII,ND5和ND4）终止密码子为不完整的T。除tRNASer（AGN）外,其余21个tRNA基因的二级结构均属典型的三叶草结构。黄脸油葫芦940bp的A+T富集区中存在一个被认为与复制起始有关的保守的二级结构,该结构不仅存在于直翅目昆虫中,而且也存在于双翅目、鳞翅目和膜翅目中,但是未见于昆虫纲的早期分化类群——弹尾目中。     

小长蝽线粒体基因组全序列测定与长蝽总科系统发育分析

为了解小长蝽Nysius ericae（Schilling）线粒体基因组结构及长蝽总科的分子系统发育关系。本试验采用Illumina MiSeq测序平台对小长蝽线粒体基因进行测序,对基因组序列进行拼装、注释和特征分析,利用最大似然法和贝叶斯法构建基于12种长蝽总科昆虫线粒体全基因组核苷酸序列的系统发育树。小长蝽线粒体基因组全长为16 330 bp（GenBank登录号：MW465654）,基因组包括13个蛋白编码基因（PCGs）,22个tRNA基因,2个rRNA基因和1段非编码控制区。11个蛋白质编码基因的起始密码子为典型的ATN;cox1,nad4l的起始密码子为TTG。cob的终止密码子为TAG,其余蛋白编码基因的终止密码子为TAA。只有trnS1缺少DHU臂,其余tRNA基因均能形成典型的三叶草结构。12种长蝽总科昆虫线粒体全基因组序列构建的昆虫系统发育树结果显示,小长蝽与Nysius plebeius具有更近的亲缘关系,且与传统形态学分类基本一致。小长蝽线粒体基因组符合长蝽总科线粒体基因组的一般特征。结果表明小长蝽与N. plebeius的亲缘关系更近。     

大卫绢蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列测定和分析

目前有关蝶类线粒体基因组全序列及其分子进化的研究报道还不多见。本文利用long PCR和引物步移法得到大卫绢蛱蝶Calinaga davidis的线粒体基因组全序列, 同时就其基因组成和结构特点作了初步分析。结果显示： 其基因组全长为15 267 bp (GenBank登录号为HQ658143), 包括13个蛋白质编码基因(ATP6, ATP8, COI-III, ND1-6, ND4L, Cytb)、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因(16S和12S)以及非编码的控制区。与其他鳞翅目昆虫相一致, 其基因组未出现基因重排现象。基因组共包含11个基因间隔区,总长度为130 bp, 间隔长度1~46 bp, 最大间隔在tRNA^Gln与ND2基因之间; 基因间共存在13处重叠, 总长度为66 bp, 重叠碱基数1~35 bp, 最长的重叠区位于COII与tRNA^Lys基因。lrRNA和srRNA基因长度分别为1 337 bp和773 bp; 除tRNA^Ser(AGN)缺少二氢尿嘧啶臂(DHU stem), 在相应的位置上只形成一个简单环外, 其余的tRNA基因都能形成典型的三叶草结构。13个蛋白编码基因总长度为11 247 bp, 共有3 737个密码子, 它们的碱基组成和密码子的使用具有明显的偏倚性; 除COI外(起始密码子TTG), 其余的12个蛋白质编码基因都以标准的ATN作为起始密码子; COI基因终止密码子为不完全T, ND4基因终止密码子为不完全TA, 其余基因都以TAA为终止密码子。A+T丰富区全长为389 bp, A+T含量高达92.0%, 其中存在2段类似微卫星的重复序列(TA)₆和(AAT)₄。本文的研究结果为探讨绢蛱蝶亚科在蛱蝶科中的系统学地位及其与其他亚科间的系统发生关系等问题提供了重要的分子生物学数据。     

The complete mitochondrial genome of Eriocheir japonica sinensis (Decapoda: Varunidae) and its phylogenetic analysis

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) can provide novel insights into understanding the mechanisms underlying mitogenome evolution. In this study, the complete mitogenome of Eriocheir japonica sinensis (Decapoda: Varunidae) was determined to be 16,378 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a D-loop region. The AT skew of the E. j. sinensis mitogenome was slightly negative (−0.016), indicating a higher number of T compared with A nucleotides. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome was also biased toward A + T nucleotides (71.6%). All PCGs were initiated by ATN codons. Eight of the 13 PCGs harbored the incomplete termination codon by T, or TA. All other tRNA genes displayed a typical clover-leaf structure of mitochondrial tRNA. The D-loop region of the E. j. sinensis mitogenome was 918 bp in length. Based on 13 PCGs, phylogenetic analysis confirmed the placement of E. j. sinensis within the Varunidae.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was determined to be 15,465 bp. It contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, the large and small rRNA genes, and an A+T-rich region. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome of C. suppressalis is highly A+T biased, accounting for 79.70% in whole mitogenome, 77.74% in PCGs, 84.70% in tRNAs, 81.20% in rRNAs and 94.19% in A+T-rich region, respectively. The PCGs have typical ATN start codons, except for cox1, which contains the unusual CGA. The C. suppressalis A+T-rich region contains a conserved structure combining the motif ATAGA and a 19-bp poly-T stretch, but absence of the 9-bp poly-A element upstream trnM.     

The complete mitogenome of the Chinese bush cricket, Gampsocleis gratiosa （Orthoptera： Tettigonioidea）

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Gampsocleis gratiosa was determined. The 15, 929 bp in the size of G. gratiosa mitogenome contains a typical gene content, base composition, and codon usage found in metazoan. All 13 protein coding genes (PCGs) of the G. gratiosa mitogenome start with a typical ATN codon. The usual termination codons (TAA and TAG) were found from 10 PCGs. However, the atp6, nad4, and nad5 had incomplete termination codon (T). The anticodons of all tRNAs are identical to those observed in Drosophila yakuba and Locusta migratoria, and can be folded in the form of a typical clover leaf structure except for trnS (AGN). The secondary structure of trnS (AGN) was drawn according with the Steinberg-Cedergren tertiary structure. The A T content (67.4%) of the A T-rich region is relatively lower among the mitogenome regions, in contrast, it usually contains the highest A T content for most insects. Two isolated sequence repeat regions (202 bp) were found in the A T-rich region with mapping and secondary structure information.     

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Beet Webworm,Spoladea recurvalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Its Phylogenetic Implications

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the beet webworm, Spoladea recurvalis has been sequenced. The circular genome is 15,273 bp in size, encoding 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes and containing a control region with gene order and orientation identical to that of other ditrysian lepidopteran mitogenomes. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome shows a high A+T content of 80.9%, and the AT skewness is slightly negative (-0.023). All PCGs start with the typical ATN codons, except for COX1, which may start with the CGA codon. Nine of 13 PCGs have the common stop codon TAA; however, COX1, COX2 and ND5 utilize the T nucleotide and ND4 utilizes TA nucleotides as incomplete termination codons. All tRNAs genes are folded into the typical cloverleaf structure of mitochondrial tRNAs, except for the tRNA^Ser(AGY) gene, in which the DHU arm fails to form a stable stem-loop structure. A total of 157 bp intergenic spacers are scattered in 17 regions. The overlapping sequences are 42 bp in total and found in eight different locations. The 329 bp AT-rich region is comprised of non-repetitive sequences, including the motif ATAG, which is followed by a 14 bp poly-T stretch, a (AT₁₁ microsatellite-like repeat, which is adjacent to the motif ATTTA, and a 9 bp poly-A, which is immediately upstream from the tRNA^Met gene. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 13 PCGs and 13 PCGs+2 rRNAs using Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood methods, show that the classification position of Pyraloidea is inconsistent with the traditional classification. Hesperioidea is placed within the Papilionoidea rather than as a sister group to it. The Pyraloidea is placed within the Macrolepidoptera with other superfamilies instead of the Papilionoidea.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma (Beloniformes, Adrianichthyidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome was obtained from the assembled genome data sequenced by next-generation sequencer from the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma. The mitochondrial genome sequence was 16,864 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical with those of previously reported fish mitochondrial genomes. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 4 genes (CO3, ND3, ND4, and Cytb) had incomplete stop codons. The base composition of O. melastigma mitogenome showed high A+T (59.65%) and anti-G bias (8.73%) on the 3rd position of PCGs.     

The mitochondrial genome of the quiet-calling katydids, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xizicus fascipes</Emphasis> (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae)

To help determine whether the typical arthropod arrangement was a synapomorphy for the whole Tettigoniidae, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the quiet-calling katydids, Xizicus fascipes (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae). The 16,166-bp nucleotide sequences of X. fascipes mitogenome contains the typical gene content, gene order, base composition, and codon usage found in arthropod mitogenomes. As a whole, the X. fascipes mitogenome contains a lower A+T content (70.2%) found in the complete orthopteran mitogenomes determined to date. All protein-coding genes started with a typical ATN codon. Ten of the 13 protein-coding genes have a complete termination codon, but the remaining three genes (COIII, ND5 and ND4) terminate with incomplete T. All tRNAs have the typical clover-leaf structure of mitogenome tRNA, except for tRNA(Ser(AGN)), in which lengthened anticodon stem (9 bp) with a bulged nuleotide in the middle, an unusual T-stem (6 bp in constrast to the normal 5 bp), a mini DHU arm (2 bp) and no connector nucleotides. In the A+T-rich region, two (TA)n conserved blocks that were previously described in Ensifera and two 150-bp tandem repeats plus a partial copy of the composed at 61 bp of the beginning were present. Phylogenetic analysis found: i) the monophyly of Conocephalinae was interrupted by Elimaea cheni from Phaneropterinae; and ii) Meconematinae was the most basal group among these five subfamilies.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pardosa pusiola (Araneae,Lycosidae) and its phylogenetic implications

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) is useful for identification and phylogenetic analyses among arthropods, but there are no sufficient mitogenome data for wolf spiders. To enrich the mitogenome database of wolf spiders, the complete mitogenome of Pardosa pusiola was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing. It is 14,284 bp, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). It represents a high bias toward A and T nucleotides with an A + T content of 76.49%. The mitogenome exhibited a negative AT skew (−0.13) and a positive GC skew (0.32). Most PCGs started with ATN codons and ended with TAA, TAG, or an incomplete T. In addition, most tRNAs had aberrant secondary structures with the absence of DHU arm or TΨC arm. Analysis performed with CREx software demonstrated that large-scale rearrangements of tRNAs were observed in the mitogenome of P. pusiola as compared with the putative ancestral mitogenome. The Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees based on the 13 PCGs of 25 spiders had the same topology, which could be presented as (Araneidae + (Agelenidae + (Dictynidae + Desidae)) + (Salticidae + (Thomisidae + (Oxyopidae + (Pisauridae + Lycosidae))))). This study offers a useful genetic resource for the taxonomy and phylogeny of spiders.     

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Diaphania pyloalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralididae)

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Diaphania pyloalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralididae) was determined to be 15,298 bp and has the typical gene organization of mitogenomes from lepidopteran insects. It consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and an A + T-rich region. The A + T content of this mitogenome is 80.83% and the AT skew is slightly positive. All PCGs are initiated by ATN codons, except for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene which is initiated by CGA. Only the cox2 gene has an incomplete stop codon consisting of just a T. All the tRNA genes display a typical clover-leaf structure of mitochondrial tRNA. The A + T-rich region of the mitogenome is 332 bp in length, including several common features found in lepidopteran mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the D. pyloalis is close to Pyralididae.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the wild silkworm moth, Actias selene

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Actias selene (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) was determined to be 15,236 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region. The arrangement of 13 PCGs was similar to that of other sequenced lepidopterans. The AT skew of the mitogenome of A. selene was slightly negative, indicating a higher number of T compared to A nucleotides. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome of A. selene was also biased toward A+T nucleotides (78.91%). All PCGs were initiated by ATN codons, except for the gene encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), which may be initiated by the TTAG, as observed in other lepidopterans. Three genes, including cox1, cox2, and nad5, had incomplete stop codons consisting of just a T. With an exception for trnS1(AGN), all the other tRNA genes displayed a typical clover-leaf structure of mitochondrial tRNA. The A+T-rich region of the mitogenome of A. selene was 339 bp in length, and contains several features common to the Lepidopteras, including non-repetitive sequences, a conserved structure combining the motif ATAGA and an 18-bp poly-T stretch and a poly-A element upstream of trnM gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. selene was close to Saturniidae.     

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Drawida gisti (Metagynophora,Moniligastridae) and comparison with other Metagynophora species

Here, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Drawida gisti was sequenced and compared with the mitogenomes of other Metagynophora species. The circular mitogenome was 14,648 bp in length and contained two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs). The types of constitutive genes and the direction of the coding strand that appeared in Drawida mitogenome were identical to those observed in other Metagynophora species, except for a missing lengthy non-coding region. The conservative relationships between Drawida species were supported by the overall analyses of 13 PCGs, two rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs. A comparison of the Metagynophora mitogenomes revealed that the ATP8 gene possessed the highest polymorphism among the 13 PCGs and two rRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the Moniligastridae contained Drawida, which is a primitive Metagynophora group. Our study provides a step forward toward elucidating the evolutionary linkages within Drawida and even Metagynophora.