The mitochondrial DNA of Xenoturbella bocki: genomic architecture and phylogenetic analysis.
The phylogenetic position of Xenoturbella bocki has been a matter of controversy since its description in 1949. We sequenced a second complete mitochondrial genome of this species and performed phylogenetic analyses based on the amino acid sequences of all 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes and on its gene order. Our results confirm the deuterostome relationship of Xenoturbella. However, in contrast to a recently published study (Bourlat et al. in Nature 444:85-88, 2006), our data analysis suggests a more basal branching of Xenoturbella within the deuterostomes, rather than a sister-group relationship to the Ambulacraria (Hemichordata and Echinodermata).
Perseke
Marleen
M
Institut für Zoologie, Molekulare Evolution und Systematik der Tiere Universität Leipzig, Talstr. 33, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. perseke@rz.uni-leipzig.de
Hankeln
Thomas
T
Weich
Bettina
B
Fritzsch
Guido
G
Stadler
Peter F
PF
Israelsson
Olle
O
Bernhard
Detlef
D
Schlegel
Martin
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012343:RNA, Transfer