Striking pseudogenization in avian phylogenetics: Numts are large and common in falcons

Autor(es)

Nacer, Deborah F. ; do Amaral, Fabio Raposo

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution; v. 115, p. 1-6, OCT 2017.
• Citações Web of Science: 4

Resumo

Nuclear copies of mitochondrial genes (numts) are a well-known feature of eukaryotic genomes and a concern in systematics, as they can mislead phylogenetic inferences when inadvertently used. Studies on avian numts initially based on the chicken genome suggest that numts may be uncommon and relatively short among birds. Here we ask how common numts are in falcons, based on recently sequenced genomes of the Saker falcon (Falco cherrug) and Peregrine falcon (F. peregrinus). We identified numts by BLASTN searches and then extracted CYTB, ND2 and COI sequences from them, which were then used for phylogeny inference along with several sequences from other species in Falconiformes. Our results indicate that avian numts may be much more frequent and longer than previously thought. Phylogenetic inferences revealed multiple independent nuclear insertions throughout the history of the Falconiformes, including cases of sequences available in public databases and wrongly identified as authentic mtDNA. New sequencing technologies and ongoing efforts for whole genome sequencing will provide exciting opportunities for avian numt research in the near future. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/50143-7 - Filogeografia multilocus comparada de três espécies de Poospiza (Aves, Passeriformes): explorando a história da Mata Atlântica montana
• Beneficiário: Fábio Sarubbi Raposo do Amaral
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 13/50297-0 - Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: integrando disciplinas para a predição da biodiversidade da Floresta Atlântica no Brasil
• Beneficiário: Cristina Yumi Miyaki
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 11/23155-4 - Filogeografia multilocus comparada de três espécies de Poospiza (Aves, Passeriformes): explorando a história da Mata Atlântica montana
• Beneficiário: Fábio Sarubbi Raposo do Amaral
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Programa BIOTA - Jovens Pesquisadores