Evidence of adaptive evolution of alpine pheasants to high-altitude environment from mitogenomic perspective.
Adaptive evolutions to high-altitude adaptation have been intensively studied in mammals. However, considering the additional vertebrate groups, new perception regarding selection challenged by high-altitude stress on mitochondrial genome can be gained. To test this hypothesis, we compiled and analyzed the mitochondrial genomes of 5 alpine pheasants and 12 low-altitude species in Phasianidae. The results that evolutionary rates of ATP6 and ND6 showing significant fluctuation among branches when involved with five alpine pheasants revealed both genes might have implications with adapting to highland environment. The radical physico-chemical property changes identified by the modified MM01 model, including composition (C) and equilibrium constant (ionization of COOH) (Pk') in ATP6 and beta-structure tendencies (Pβ), Pk', and long-range non-bonded energy (El) in ND6, suggested that minor overall adjustments in size, protein conformation and relative orientation of reaction interfaces have been optimized to provide the ideal environments for electron transfer, proton translocation and generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Additionally, three unique substitution sites were identified under selection in ND6, which could be potentially important adaptive changes contributing to cellular energy production. Our findings suggested that adaptive evolution may occur in alpine pheasants, which are an important complement to the knowledge of genetic mechanisms against the high-altitude environment in non-mammal animals.
a College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China and.|b Forestry College, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China.
Peng
P
Gu
a College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China and.|b Forestry College, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China.
Wei
W
Liu
a College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China and.
Yong-fang
YF
Yao
a College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China and.
Qing-yong
QY
Ni
a College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China and.
Ming-wang
MW
Zhang
a College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China and.
Di-yan
DY
Li
a College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University , Ya'an , China and.
Huai-liang
HL
Xu
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D046094:Galliformes / Q000235:genetics*; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
Adaptive diversity; alpine pheasants; functional constraints; high-altitude adaptation