Mitochondrial DNA sequences of five squamates: phylogenetic affiliation of snakes.

Complete or nearly complete mitochondrial DNA sequences were determined from four lizards (Western fence lizard, Warren's spinytail lizard, Terrestrial arboreal alligator lizard, and Chinese crocodile lizard) and a snake (Texas blind snake). These genomes had a typical gene organization found in those of most mammals and fishes, except for a translocation of the glutamine tRNA gene in the blind snake and a tandem duplication of the threonine and proline tRNA genes in the spinytail lizard. Although previous work showed the existence of duplicate control regions in mitochondrial DNAs of several snakes, the blind snake did not have this characteristic. Phylogenetic analyses based on different tree-building methods consistently supported that the blind snake and a colubrid snake (akamata) make a sister clade relative to all the lizard taxa from six different families. An alternative hypothesis that snakes evolved from a lineage of varanoids was not favored and nearly statistically rejected by the Kishino-Hasegawa test. It is therefore likely that the apparent similarity of the tongue structure between snakes and varanoids independently evolved and that the duplication of the control region occurred on a snake lineage after divergence of the blind snake.     

Characterization of four mitochondrial genomes of Crambidae (Lepidoptera,Pyraloidea) and phylogenetic implications

Loxostege turbidalis, Loxostege aeruginalis, Pyrausta despicata, and Crambus perlellus belong to Crambidae, Pyraloidea. Their mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) were successfully sequenced. The mitogenomes of L. turbidalis, L. aeruginalis, P. despicata, and C. perlellus are 15 240 bp, 15 339 bp, 15 389 bp, and 15 440 bp. The four mitogenomes all have a typical insect mitochondrial gene order, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and one A + T rich region (control region). The PCGs are initiated by the typical ATN codons, except CGA for the cox1 gene. Most PCGs terminate with common codon TAA or TAG, the incomplete codon T is found as the stop codon for cox2, nad4, and nad5. Most tRNA genes exhibit typical cloverleaf structure, except trnS1 (AGN) lacking the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm. The secondary structure of rRNA of four mitogenomes were predicted. Poly-T structure and micro-satellite regions are conserved in control regions. The phylogenetic analyses based on 13 PCGs showed the relationships of subfamilies in Pyraloidea. Pyralidae, and Crambidae are monophyletic, respectively. Pyralidae comprises four subfamilies, which form the following topology with high support values: (Galleriinae + ((Pyralinae + Epipaschiinae)+ Phycitinae)). Crambidae includes seven subfamilies and is divided into two lineages. Pyraustinae and Spilomelinae are sister groups of each other, and form the “PS clade.” Other five subfamilies (Crambinae, Acentropinae, Scopariinae, Schoenobiinae, and Glaphyriinae) form the “non-PS clade” in the Bayesian inference tree. However, Schoenobiinae is not grouped with the other four subfamilies and located at the base of Crambidae in two maximum likelihood trees.     

野牦牛线粒体基因组序列测定及其系统进化

野牦牛属高寒地区的特有物种,是我国最珍贵的野生动物遗传资源之一,已被列为国家一级重点保护动物。对野牦牛mtDNA进行全序列测定和结构分析,并基于线粒体基因组序列对其系统发生进行了探讨。结果表明:(1)野牦牛线粒体基因组全序列的大小为16 322 bp,整个基因组由37个编码基因和D-loop区组成;22个tRNA基因序列长度为1 524 bp、2个RNA基因序列长度为2 528 bp、13个编码蛋白基因序列长度为11420 bp、D-loop区长度为892 bp。基因组中无间隔序列,基因间排列紧密,基因内无内含子。(2)野牦牛具有较丰富的遗传多样性。(3)分子系统发生关系显示牦牛为牛亚科中的一个独立属,即牦牛属(Poephagus),牦牛属包括家牦牛(Poephagus grunniens)和野牦牛(Poephagus mutus)2个种。野牦牛线粒体基因组全序列的获得和结构解析对研究牦牛的起源、演化和分类,以及野牦牛遗传资源的保护、开发和利用均具有重要的理论和实际意义。     

Identification of a dispersed MboI repeat family in five higher plant genomes

Digestion of nuclear DNAs of five plants, namelyCucurbita maxima (red gourd),Trichosanthes anguina (snake gourd),Cucumis sativus (cucumber),Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) andPhaseolus vulgaris (french bean) with the restriction endonucleaseMboI yielded discrete size classes with molecular weights in the range of 0.5 to 5 kbp. TheMboI digestion pattern of Cot 0.1 DNA in french bean is comparable with that of total DNA, indicating that these bands represented highly repeated DNA sequences. Cleavage of the DNAs with varying amounts ofMboI indicated the dispersed nature of the repeat families. Southern hybridization studies using french bean highly repetitive DNA as a probe indicated more homology with repeats of pigeon pea and less homology with red gourd, snake gourd and cucumber repeats.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of Anisakis simplex (Ascaridida: Nematoda) and phylogenetic implications

We determined the nucleotide sequence of the complete mitochondrial genome of the nematode species Anisakis simplex. The genome is circular, 13,916 bp in size and conforms to the general characteristics of nematode mitochondrial DNAs. The gene arrangement of A. simplex is the same as that of Ascaris suum and almost identical to those of rhabditid species with a minor exception concerning the relative position of the AT-rich and non-coding regions and radically different from those of spirurid species. Along with comparisons of gene arrangement, phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony, neighbour joining and maximum likelihood methods) based on concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes from 13 nematode species provided strong support for the sister-group relationship between Ascaridida and Rhabditida. The Shimodaira-Hasegawa and Templeton's tests both rejected the alternative hypothesis of a closer relationship between Ascaridida and Spirurida. These results contradicted the traditional view of nematode classification and a recent molecular phylogenetic study of 18S rDNA data that assigned Ascaridida and Spirurida as being a sister-group. Mapping of gene arrangement across the phylogenetic tree lead to the assumption that the conserved gene arrangement found in Ascaridida-Rhabditida members might have been acquired after the most recent common ancestor of ascaridid/rhabditid members branched off from the basal stock of the rhabditid lineage.     

A comparison of complete mitochondrial genomes of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis: implications for their taxonomic relationship and phylogeny

Based upon morphological characters, Silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (or Aristichthys nobilis ) have been classified into either the same genus or two distinct genera. Consequently, the taxonomic relationship of the two species at the generic level remains equivocal. This issue is addressed by sequencing complete mitochondrial genomes of H. molitrix and H. nobilis , comparing their mitogenome organization, structure and sequence similarity, and conducting a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of cyprinid species. As with other cyprinid fishes, the mitogenomes of the two species were structurally conserved, containing 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNAs) genes and a putative control region (D-loop). Sequence similarity between the two mitogenomes varied in different genes or regions, being highest in the tRNA genes (98·8%), lowest in the control region (89·4%) and intermediate in the protein-coding genes (94·2%). Analyses of the sequence comparison and phylogeny using concatenated protein sequences support the view that the two species belong to the genus Hypophthalmichthys . Further studies using nuclear markers and involving more closely related species, and the systematic combination of traditional biology and molecular biology are needed in order to confirm this conclusion.     

Complete mitochondrial genomes of three sea basses Lateolabrax (Perciformes,Lateolabracidae) species: Genome description and phylogenetic considerations

Genus Lateolabrax consists of three species, Japanese sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus, spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus and blackfin sea bass Lateolabrax latus. The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the three sea basses were amplified and sequenced to characterize and discuss their phylogenetic relationships. The length of mitogenomes was 16,593 bp, 16,479 bp and 16,600 bp, respectively, and all of them consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) and a control region, which are typical for mtDNA of vertebrate. Most genes were encoded on the H-strand, except for the ND6 and eight tRNA genes encoding on the L-strand. A significant variation among the three species was detected in length of the control region. Phylogenetic relationship among the three species was constructed based on the datasets, including the 12 protein-coding genes (except ND6 gene), 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA sequences. The results supported the sister taxon between L. japonicus and L. maculatus. The genetic resources reported here are useful for further studies in taxonomy and phylogeny of the three sea basses and related species.     

The First Mitochondrial Genome for Caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) with Phylogenetic Implications

The Trichoptera (caddisflies) is a holometabolous insect order with 14,300 described species forming the second most species-rich monophyletic group of animals in freshwater. Hitherto, there is no mitochondrial genome reported of this order. Herein, we describe the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of a caddisfly species, Eubasilissa regina (McLachlan, 1871). A phylogenomic analysis was carried out based on the mt genomic sequences of 13 mt protein coding genes (PCGs) and two rRNA genes of 24 species belonging to eight holometabolous orders. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses highly support the sister relationship between Trichoptera and Lepidoptera.     

Complete mitochondrial genomes of three skippers in the tribe Aeromachini (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) and their phylogenetic implications

The mitochondrial genome is now widely used in the study of phylogenetics and molecular evolution due to its maternal inheritance, fast evolutionary rate, and highly conserved gene content. To explore the phylogenetic relationships of the tribe Aeromachini within the subfamily Hesperiinae at the mitochondrial genomic level, we sequenced and annotated the complete mitogenomes of 3 skippers: Ampittia virgata, Halpe nephele, and Onryza maga (new mitogenomes for 2 genera) with a total length of 15,333 bp, 15,291 bp, and 15,381 bp, respectively. The mitogenomes all contain 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a noncoding A + T‐rich region and are consistent with other lepidopterans in gene order and type. In addition, we reconstructed the phylogenetic trees of Hesperiinae using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods based on mitogenomic data. Results show that the tribe Aeromachini in this study robustly constitute a monophyletic group in the subfamily Hesperiinae, with the relationships Coeliadinae + (Euschemoninae + (Pyrginae + ((Eudaminae + Tagiadinae) + (Heteropterinae + ((Trapezitinae + Barcinae) + Hesperiinae))))). Moreover, our study supports the view that Apostictopterus fuliginosus and Barca bicolor should be placed out of the subfamily Hesperiinae.     

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）。     

Mitochondrial genomes in the Hymenoptera and their utility as phylogenetic markers

Abstract.  In this study, we assessed the ability of mitochondrial genome sequences to recover a test phylogeny of five hymenopteran taxa from which phylogenetic relationships are well accepted. Our analyses indicated that the test phylogeny was well recovered in all nucleotide Bayesian analyses when all the available holometabolan (i.e. outgroup) taxa were included, but only in Bayesian analyses excluding third codon positions when only the hymenopteran representatives and a single outgroup were included. This result suggests that taxon sampling of the outgroup might be as important as taxon sampling of the ingroup when recovering hymenopteran phylogenetic relationships using whole mitochondrial genomes. Parsimony analyses were more sensitive to both taxon sampling and the analytical model than Bayesian analyses, and analyses using the protein dataset did not recover the test phylogeny. In general, mitochondrial genomes did not resolve the position of the Hymenoptera within the Holometabola with confidence, suggesting that an increased taxon sampling, both within the Holometabola and among outgroups, is necessary.     

The isochore patterns of mammalian genomes and their phylogenetic implications

The compositional distributions of high molecular weight DNA fragments from 20 species belonging to 9 out of the 17 eutherian orders were investigated by analytical CsCl density gradient centrifugation and by preparative fractionation in Cs₂SO₄/BAMD density gradients followed by analysis of the fractions in CsCl. These compositional distributions reflect those of the isochores making up the corresponding genomes. A “general distribution” was found in species belonging to eight mammalian orders. A “myomorph distribution” was found in Myomorpha, but not in the other rodent infraorders Sciuromorpha and Histricomorpha, which share the general distribution. Two other distributions were found in a megachiropteran (but not in microchiropteran, which, again, shares the general distribution) and in pangolin (a species from the only genus of the order Pholidota), respectively. The main difference between the general distribution and all other distributions is that the former contains sizable amounts (6–10%) of GC-rich isochores (detected as DNA fragments equal to, or higher than, 1.710 g/cm³ in modal buoyant density), which are scarce, or absent, in the other distributions. This difference is remarkable because gene concentrations in mammalian genomes are paralleled by GC levels, the highest gene concentrations being present in the GC-richest isochores. The compositional distributions of mammalian genomes reported here shed light on mammalian phylogeny. Indeed, all orders investigated, with the exception of Pholidota, seem to share a common ancestor. The compositional patterns of the megachiropteran and of Myomorpha may be derived from the general pattern or have independent origins.     

Nucleomorph genome diversity and its phylogenetic implications in cryptomonad algae

The relationship between phylogeny and nucleomorph genome size was examined in 16 strains of cryptomonad algae using pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis, Southern hybridization and phylogenetic analyses. Our results suggest that all cryptomonads examined in this study contain three nucleomorph chromosomes and their total genome size ranges from 495 to 750 kb. In addition, we estimated the plastid genome size of the respective organisms. The plastid genomes of photosynthetic strains were approximately 120–160 kb in size, whereas the non‐photosynthetic Cryptomonas paramecium NIES715 possesses a genome of approximately 70 kb. Phylogenetic analysis of the nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) gene showed that nucleomorph genome size varies considerably within closely related strains. This result indicates that the reduction of nucleomorph genomes is a rapid phenomenon that occurred multiple times independently during cryptomonad evolution. The nucleomorph genome sizes of Cryptomonas rostratiformis NIES277 appeared to be approximately 495 kb. This is smaller than that of Guillardia theta CCMP327, which until now was thought to have the smallest known nucleomorph genome size among photosynthetic cryptomonads.     

Comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes of three geographical topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) groups and implications for their phylogenetics

Topmouth culter (C. alburnus) is an important commercial fish in China. We compared the nucleotide variations in the mtDNA genomes among three geographical groups of Culter alburnus: Liangzi Lake, Hubei Province (referred to as LZH); Taihu Lake, Jiangsu Province (TH); and Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province (PYH). The similarity of whole mtDNA genomes ranged from 0.992 to 0.999. The similarity among 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and the D-loop sequences was found to range from 0.982 to 0.996. This is useful data for future designing work for making specific molecular marker for distinguishing individuals of C. alburnus from the three geographical groups. An extended termination-associated sequence (ETAS) and several conserved blocks (CSB-F, CSB-E, CSB-D, CSB1, CSB2, and CSB3) were identified in the mtDNA control regions. A phylogenetic analysis shows a monophyletic relationship of the LZF-female and the LZF-male. However, the analysis also showed paraphyletic relationships for the other two geological groups. This result will be useful for the future breeding work of C. alburnus.     

Head capsule characters in the Hymenoptera and their phylogenetic implications

The head capsule of a taxon sample of three outgroup and 86 ingroup taxa is examined for characters of possible phylogenetic significance within Hymenoptera. 21 morphological characters are illustrated and scored, and their character evolution explored by mapping them onto a phylogeny recently produced from a large morphological data set. Many of the characters are informative and display unambiguous changes. Most of the character support demonstrated is supportive at the superfamily or family level. In contrast, only few characters corroborate deeper nodes in the phylogeny of Hymenoptera.     

The mitochondrial genome of the firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa: complete DNA sequence, genome organization, and phylogenetic analysis with other insects

The complete nucleotide sequences of the mt genome from the firefly, Pyrococelia rufa (Coeleoptera: Lampyridae) was determined. The circular genome is 17,739-bp long, and contains a typical gene complement, order, and arrangement identical to Drosophila yacuba. The presence of 1,724-bp long intergenic spacer in the P. rufa mt genome is unique. The putative initiation codon for ND1 gene appears to be TTG, instead of frequently found ATN. All tRNAs showed stable canonical clover-leaf structure of other mt tRNAs, except for tRNA(Ser) (AGN), DHU arm of which could not form stable stem-loop structure. Phylogenetic analysis among insect orders confirmed a monophyletic Endopterygota, a monophyletic Mecopterida, a monophyletic Diptera, a monophyletic Lepidoptera, and a monophyletic Coleoptera, suggesting that the complete insect mt genome sequence has a resolving power in the diversification events within Endopterygota. However, internal relationships among three coleopteran species are not clear, and the inclusion of some insect orders (i.e., apterygotan T. gertschi) in the analysis provided inconsistent results compared to other molecular studies.     

昆虫基因组及其大小

昆虫基因组大小是由于基因组各种重复序列在扩增、缺失和分化过程中所致的数量差异造成的。这些差异使得昆虫不同类群间、种间和同种的不同种群间表现出基因组大小的不同。目前有59种昆虫已经列入基因组测序计划, 其中6种昆虫（黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster、冈比亚按蚊Anopheles gambiae、家蚕Bombyx mori、意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera、埃及伊蚊Aedes aegypti和赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum）的全基因组序列已经报道。有725种昆虫的基因组大小得到了估计, 大小在0.09~16.93 pg （88~16 558 Mb）之间。本文还介绍了昆虫基因组大小的估计方法, 讨论了昆虫基因组大小的变化及其意义。     

Mitochondrial genomes of acrodont lizards: timing of gene rearrangements and phylogenetic and biogeographic implications

Background  

Acrodonta consists of Agamidae and Chamaeleonidae that have the characteristic acrodont dentition. These two families and Iguanidae sensu lato are members of infraorder Iguania. Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of iguanian lizards still remain to be elucidated in spite of a number of morphological and molecular studies. This issue was addressed by sequencing complete mitochondrial genomes from 10 species that represent major lineages of acrodont lizards. This study also provided a good opportunity to compare molecular evolutionary modes of mitogenomes among different iguanian lineages.     

Mitochondrial genomes from major lizard families suggest their phylogenetic relationships and ancient radiations

In placental mammals and birds, molecular data generally support a view that they diverged into their ordinal groups in good response to mid-Cretaceous continental fragmentations. However, such divergence patterns have rarely been studied for reptiles for which phylogenetic relationships among their major groups have not yet been established molecularly. Here, I determined complete or nearly complete mitochondrial DNA sequences from seven lizard families and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships between major lizard families. When snakes were included, maximum likelihood analysis did not support a morphological view of the snakes-varanoids affinity, although several other competing hypotheses on the position of snakes still cannot be discriminated presumably due to extremely long branches of the snake lineages. I also conducted clock-free Bayesian analyses to show that divergence times between major lizard families were centered in Triassic-Jurassic times. Thus, lizards include much deeper divergences than the mammals and birds and they appear to have already radiated into various families prior to the mid-Cretaceous major continental fragmentation.