First record of translocation in Culicidae (Diptera) mitogenomes: evidence from the tribe Sabethini

Author(s)

Lorenz, Camila ^[1] ; Pereira Alves, Joao Marcelo ^[2] ; Foster, Peter Gordon ^[3] ; Mureb Sallum, Maria Anice ^[1] ; Suesdek, Lincoln ^{[4, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, Ave Dr Arnaldo, 715, BR-05509300 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Parasitol, Inst Biol Sci, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes, 1374, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Nat Hist Museum, Dept Life Sci, Cromwell Rd, London - England

^[4] Butantan Inst, Ave Vital Brazil 1500, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Trop Med, Ave Dr Eneas Carvalho Aguiar 470, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC Genomics; v. 20, n. 1 SEP 27 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background The tribe Sabethini (Diptera: Culicidae) contains important vectors of the yellow fever virus and presents remarkable morphological and ecological diversity unequalled in other mosquito groups. However, there is limited information about mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from these species. As mitochondrial genetics has been fundamental for posing evolutionary hypotheses and identifying taxonomical markers, in this study we sequenced the first sabethine mitogenomes: Sabethes undosus, Trichoprosopon pallidiventer, Runchomyia reversa, Limatus flavisetosus, and Wyeomyia confusa. In addition, we performed phylogenetic analyses of Sabethini within Culicidae and compared its mitogenomic architecture to that of other insects. Results Similar to other insects, the Sabethini mitogenome contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. However, the gene order is not the same as that in other mosquitoes; the tyrosine (Y) and cysteine (C) tRNA genes have translocated. In general, mitogenome rearrangements within insects are uncommon events; the translocation reported here is unparalleled among Culicidae and can be considered an autapomorphy for the Neotropical sabethines. Conclusions Our study provides clear evidence of gene rearrangements in the mitogenomes of these Neotropical genera in the tribe Sabethini. Gene order can be informative at the taxonomic level of tribe. The translocations found, along with the mitogenomic sequence data and other recently published findings, reinforce the status of Sabethini as a well-supported monophyletic taxon. Furthermore, T. pallidiventer was recovered as sister to R. reversa, and both were placed as sisters of other Sabethini genera (Sabethes, Wyeomyia, and Limatus). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/05521-9 - Characterization of macroevolutionary patterns in Culicidae (Diptera) using geometric morphometrics, genetic sequencing and mass spectrometry
• Grantee: Camila Lorenz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/12784-1 - A mitochondrial genome phylogeny of Culicidae
• Grantee: Camila Lorenz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate