title: [Molecular genetic evidences of a deep phylogenetic discontinuity between Asian and European races of pygmy wood mouse based on the data of mtDNA cytochrome b gene variability].
abstract: The variability of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene sequences of pygmy wood mouse Sylvaemus uralensis (Pallas, 1811) from local populations of European regions of Russia, West Siberia, and neighboring countries (Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan) have been studied. Phylogenetic analysis both our results and data from GenBank revealed two clusters of haplotypes: "western" with reliable subdivision into two sequence groups and "eastern" without valid differentiation. Clusters correspond exactly to European and Asian races of pygmy wood mouse recognized earlier on the basis of biochemical and karyological variability. We suppose that Asian race can be considered as independent allopatric species. This is supported by following evidences: high divergence level (which proposes more than 1 mya of divergent evolution) between races, absence of common haplotypes and hiatus between main peaks of mismatch distribution, differences in frequencies of codon usage, fixed nucleotide substitutions in cyt b gene, and also changes in amino acid sequences of cytochrome b. Only specimens of the western phylogenetic linage can be considered as S. uralensis (Pallas, 1811) while according to the first description S. tokmak (Severtzov, 1873) may be considered as species united specimens of eastern phylogenetic linage.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Chelomina
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Atopkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D005060:Europe; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051189:Murinae / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D045303:Cytochromes b