Grayling (Thymallinae) phylogeny within salmonids: complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of Thymallus arcticus and Thymallus thymallus

The phylogenetic relationships among the three subfamilies (Salmoninae, Coregoninae and Thymallinae) in the Salmonidae have not been addressed extensively at the molecular level. In this study, the whole mitochondrial genomes of two Thymallinae species, Thymallus arcticus and Thymallus thymallus were sequenced, and the published mitochondrial genome sequences of other salmonids were used for Bayesian and maximum‐likelihood phylogenetic analyses. These results support an ancestral Coregoninae, branching within the Salmonidae, with Thymallinae as the sister group to Salmoninae.     

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.     

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.     

Sundasalanx(Sundasalangidae) is a progenetic clupeiform, not a closely‐related group of salangids (Osmeriformes): mitogenomic evidence

Partitioned Bayesian analysis of whole mitochondrial genome sequences from 30 basal teleosts confidently placed Sundasalanx (Sundasalangidae) within the Clupeiformes, not Osmeriformes as originally thought. This study represents the first demonstration of the phylogenetic position of Sundasalanx on a phylogenetic tree.     

Comparative mitochondrial and chloroplast genomics of a genetically distinct form of Sargassum contributing to recent “Golden Tides” in the Western Atlantic

Over the past 5 years, massive accumulations of holopelagic species of the brown macroalga Sargassum in coastal areas of the Caribbean have created “golden tides” that threaten local biodiversity and trigger economic losses associated with beach deterioration and impact on fisheries and tourism. In 2015, the first report identifying the cause of these extreme events implicated a rare form of the holopelagic species Sargassum natans (form VIII). However, since the first mention of S. natans VIII in the 1930s, based solely on morphological characters, no molecular data have confirmed this identification. We generated full‐length mitogenomes and partial chloroplast genomes of all representative holopelagic Sargassum species, S. fluitans III and S. natans I alongside the putatively rare S. natans VIII, to demonstrate small but consistent differences between S. natans I and VIII (7 bp differences out of the 34,727). Our comparative analyses also revealed that both S. natans I and S. natans VIII share a very close phylogenetic relationship with S. fluitans III (94‐ and 96‐bp differences of 34,727). We designed novel primers that amplified regions of the cox2 and cox3 marker genes with consistent polymorphic sites that enabled differentiation between the two S. natans forms (I and VIII) from each other and both from S. fluitans III in over 150 Sargassum samples including those from the 2014 golden tide event. Despite remarkable gene synteny and sequence conservation, the three Sargassum forms differ in morphology, ecology, and distribution patterns, warranting more extensive interrogation of holopelagic Sargassum genomes as a whole.     

The phylogenetic position of toadfishes (order Batrachoidiformes) in the higher ray-finned fish as inferred from partitioned Bayesian analysis of 102 whole mitochondrial genome sequences

In a previous study based on 100 whole mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences, we sought to provide a new perspective on the ordinal relationships of higher ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii). The study left unexplored the phylogenetic position of toadfishes (order Batrachoidiformes), as data were unavailable owing to technical difficulties. In the present study, we successfully determined mitogenomic sequences for two toadfish species ( Batrachomoeus trispinosus and Porichthys myriaster ) and found that the difficulties resulted from unusual gene arrangements and associated repetitive non-coding sequences. Unambiguously aligned, concatenated mitogenomic sequences (13 461 bp) from 102 higher actinopterygians (excluding the ND6 gene and control region) were divided into five partitions (1st, 2nd and 3rd codon positions of the protein-coding genes, tRNA genes and rRNA genes) and partitioned Bayesian analyses were conducted. The resultant phylogenies strongly suggest that the toadfishes are not members of relatively primitive higher actinopterygians (Paracanthopterygii), but belong to a crown group of actinopterygians (Percomorpha), as was demonstrated for ophidiiform eels (Ophidiiformes) and anglerfishes (Lophiiformes) in the previous study. We propose revised limits of major unranked categories for higher actinopterygians and a new name (Berycomorpha) for a clade comprising two reciprocally paraphyletic orders (Beryciformes and Stephanoberyciformes) based on the present mitogenomic phylogenies.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 85 , 289–306.     

Phylogenetic relationships and divergence dates of softshell turtles (Testudines: Trionychidae) inferred from complete mitochondrial genomes

The softshell turtles (Trionychidae) are one of the most widely distributed reptile groups in the world, and fossils have been found on all continents except Antarctica. The phylogenetic relationships among members of this group have been previously studied; however, disagreements regarding its taxonomy, its phylogeography and divergence times are still poorly understood as well. Here, we present a comprehensive mitogenomic study of softshell turtles. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of 10 softshell turtles, in addition to the GenBank sequence of Dogania subplana, Lissemys punctata, Trionyx triunguis, which cover all extant genera within Trionychidae except for Cyclanorbis and Cycloderma. These data were combined with other mitogenomes of turtles for phylogenetic analyses. Divergence time calibration and ancestral reconstruction were calculated using BEAST and RASP software, respectively. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that Trionychidae is the sister taxon of Carettochelyidae, and support the monophyly of Trionychinae and Cyclanorbinae, which is consistent with morphological data and molecular analysis. Our phylogenetic analyses have established a sister taxon relationship between the Asian Rafetus and the Asian Palea + Pelodiscus + Dogania + Nilssonia + Amyda, whereas a previous study grouped the Asian Rafetus with the American Apalone. The results of divergence time estimates and area ancestral reconstruction show that extant Trionychidae originated in Asia at around 108 million years ago (MA), and radiations mainly occurred during two warm periods, namely Late Cretaceous–Early Eocene and Oligocene. By combining the estimated divergence time and the reconstructed ancestral area of softshell turtles, we determined that the dispersal of softshell turtles out of Asia may have taken three routes. Furthermore, the times of dispersal seem to be in agreement with the time of the India–Asia collision and opening of the Bering Strait, which provide evidence for the accuracy of our estimation of divergence time. Overall, the mitogenomes of this group were used to explore the origin and dispersal route of Trionychidae and have provided new insights on the evolution of this group.     

Prospects on the evolutionary mitogenomics of plants: A case study on the olive family (Oleaceae)

The mitogenome is rarely used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of plants, contrary to nuclear and plastid markers. Here, we evaluate the usefulness of mitochondrial DNA for molecular evolutionary studies in Oleaceae, in which cases of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and of potentially contrasted organelle inheritance are known. We compare the diversity and the evolution of mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes by focusing on the olive complex and related genera. Using high‐throughput techniques, we reconstructed complete mitogenomes (ca. 0.7 Mb) and plastomes (ca. 156 kb) for six olive accessions and one Chionanthus. A highly variable organization of mitogenomes was observed at the species level. In olive, two specific chimeric genes were identified in the mitogenome of lineage E3 and may be involved in CMS. Plastid‐derived regions (mtpt) were observed in all reconstructed mitogenomes. Through phylogenetic reconstruction, we demonstrate that multiple integrations of mtpt regions have occurred in Oleaceae, but mtpt regions shared by all members of the olive complex derive from a common ancestor. We then assembled 52 conserved mitochondrial gene regions and complete plastomes of ten additional accessions belonging to tribes Oleeae, Fontanesieae and Forsythieae. Phylogenetic congruence between topologies based on mitochondrial regions and plastomes suggests a strong disequilibrium linkage between both organellar genomes. Finally, while phylogenetic reconstruction based on plastomes fails to resolve the evolutionary history of maternal olive lineages in the Mediterranean area, their phylogenetic relationships were successfully resolved with complete mitogenomes. Overall, our study demonstrates the great potential of using mitochondrial DNA in plant phylogeographic and metagenomic studies.     

Mitochondrial DNA mutations and male infertility

Infertility can be defined as difficulty in conceiving a child after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. Infertility can arise either because of the male factor or female factor or both. According to the current estimates, 15% of couples attempting their first pregnancy could not succeed. Infertility is either primary or secondary. Mitochondria have profound effect on all biochemical pathways, including the one that drivessperm motility. Sperm motility is heavily dependent on the ATP generated by oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondrial sheath. In this review, the very positive role of mitochondrial genome's association with infertility is discussed.