Complete mitogenome of Anopheles sinensis and mitochondrial insertion segments in the nuclear genomes of 19 mosquito species

PLoS One. 2018 Sep 27;13(9):e0204667. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204667. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Anopheles sinensis is a major malarial vector in China and Southeast Asia. The mitochondria is involved in many important biological functions. Nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments (NUMTs) are common in eukaryotic organisms, but their characteristics are poorly understood. We sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of An. sinensis. The mt genome is 15,418 bp long and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNAs, 22 tRNAs and a large non-coding region. Its gene arrangement is similar to previously published mosquito mt genomes. We identified and analyzed the NUMTs of 19 mosquito species with both nuclear genomes and mt genome sequences. The number, total length and density of NUMTs are significantly correlated with genome size. About half of NUMTs are short (< 200 bp), but larger genomes can house longer NUMTs. NUMTs may help explain genome size expansion in mosquitoes. The expansion due to mitochondrial insertion segments is variable in different insect groups. PCGs are transferred to nuclear genomes at a higher frequency in mosquitoes, but NUMT origination is more different than in mammals. Larger-sized nuclear genomes have longer mt genome sequences in both mosquitoes and mammals. The study provides a foundation for the functional research of mitochondrial genes in An. sinensis and helps us understand the characteristics and origin of NUMTs and the potential contribution to genome expansion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / classification
  • Anopheles / genetics*
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Culicidae / classification
  • Culicidae / genetics*
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
  • Genome, Insect*
  • Genome, Mitochondrial*
  • Mosquito Vectors / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • RNA, Transfer

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the followings: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672363, 31372265), National Key Program of Science and Technology Foundation Work of China (2015FY210300) and Science and Technology Major Special Project of Guangxi (GKAA17129002). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.