Comparison of seven complete mitochondrial genomes from Lamprologus and Neolamprologus (Chordata, Teleostei, Perciformes) and the phylogenetic implications for Cichlidae

Jiachen Wang; Jingzhe Tai; Wenwen Zhang; Ke He; Hong Lan; Hongyi Liu

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1184.107091

Comparison of seven complete mitochondrial genomes from Lamprologus and Neolamprologus (Chordata, Teleostei, Perciformes) and the phylogenetic implications for Cichlidae

Zookeys. 2023 Nov 15:1184:115-132. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1184.107091. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jiachen Wang¹, Jingzhe Tai¹, Wenwen Zhang², Ke He³, Hong Lan⁴, Hongyi Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China.
² Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, Nanjing 210042, China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety Nanjing China.
³ Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University Hangzhou China.
⁴ Zhejiang Open University, Hangzhou 310012, China Zhejiang Open University Hangzhou China.

Abstract

In this study, mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of seven cichlid species (Lamprologuskungweensis, L.meleagris, L.ornatipinnis, Neolamprologusbrevis, N.caudopunctatus, N.leleupi, and N.similis) are characterized for the first time. The newly sequenced mitogenomes contained 37 typical genes [13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs)]. The mitogenomes were 16,562 ~ 16,587 bp in length with an A + T composition of 52.1~58.8%. The cichlid mitogenomes had a comparable nucleotide composition, A + T content was higher than the G + C content. The AT-skews of most mitogenomes were inconspicuously positive and the GC-skews were negative, indicating higher occurrences of C than G. Most PCGs started with the conventional start codon, ATN. There was no essential difference in the codon usage patterns of these seven species. Using Ka/Ks, we found the fastest-evolving gene were atp8. But the results of p-distance indicated that the fastest-evolving gene was nad6. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that L.meleagris did not cluster with Lamprologus species, but with species from the genus Neolamprologus. The novel information obtained about these mitogenomes will contribute to elucidating the complex relationships among cichlid species.

Keywords: Cichlidae; Lamprologus; Neolamprologus; mitogenome; phylogenetic analyses.

Jiachen Wang, Jingzhe Tai, Wenwen Zhang, Ke He, Hong Lan, Hongyi Liu.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students of China (202210298070Z), the biodiversity investigation, observation and assessment program (2019-2023) of Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (2110404), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).