Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genomes from Polycladida (Platyhelminthes) using next-generation sequencing.
The complete mitochondrial genomes of three polycladids, the acotylean Hoploplana elisabelloi and the cotyleans Enchiridium sp. and Prosthiostomum siphunculus have been assembled with high coverage from Illumina sequencing data. The mt genomes contain 36 genes including 12 of the 13 protein-coding genes characteristic for metazoan mitochondrial genomes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. Gene annotation, gene order, genetic code, start and stop codons and codon bias have been identified. In comparison with the well investigated parasitic Neodermata, our analysis reveals a great diversity of gene orders within Polycladida and Platyhelminthes in general. By analyzing representative genomes of the main groups of Platyhelminthes we explored the phylogenetic relationships of this group. The phylogenetic analyses strongly supported the monophyly of Polycladida, and based on a small taxon sampling suggest the monophyly of Acotylea and Cotylea.
Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: maite.aguado@uam.es.
M Teresa
MT
Aguado
Departamento de Biología Molecular and Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Cristina
C
Grande
Molecular Evolution and Systematics of Animals, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Michael
M
Gerth
Molecular Evolution and Systematics of Animals, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Christoph
C
Bleidorn
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Carolina
C
Noreña
D000818:Animals; D049751:Genome, Helminth; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D010802:Phylogeny; D010986:Platyhelminths / Q000235:genetics*
Mitochondrial genome; Molecular phylogenetics; Platyhelminthes; Polycladida