Journal article
The single mitochondrial chromosome typical of animals has evolved into 18 minichromosomes in the human body louse, Pediculus humanus
Genome Research, Vol.19(5), pp.904-912
2009
Abstract
The mitochondrial (mt) genomes of animals typically consist of a single circular chromosome that is ∼16-kb long and has 37 genes. Our analyses of the sequence reads from the Human Body Louse Genome Project and the patterns of gel electrophoresis and Southern hybridization revealed a novel type of mt genome in the sucking louse, Pediculus humanus. Instead of having all mt genes on a single chromosome, the 37 mt genes of this louse are on 18 minicircular chromosomes. Each minicircular chromosome is 3-4 kb long and has one to three genes. Minicircular mt chromosomes are also present in the four other species of sucking lice that we investigated, but not in chewing lice nor in the Psocoptera, to which sucking lice are most closely related. We also report unequivocal evidence for recombination between minicircular mt chromosomes in P. humanus and for sequence variation in mt genes generated by recombination. The advantages of a fragmented mt genome, if any, are currently unknown. Fragmentation of mt genome, however, has coevolved with blood feeding in the sucking lice. It will be of interest to explore whether or not life history features are associated with the evolution of fragmented chromosomes.
Details
- Title
- The single mitochondrial chromosome typical of animals has evolved into 18 minichromosomes in the human body louse, Pediculus humanus
- Authors
- Renfu Shao (Author) - University of QueenslandE F Kirkness (Author) - The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, United StatesS C Barker (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Genome Research, Vol.19(5), pp.904-912
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
- Date published
- 2009
- DOI
- 10.1101/gr.083188.108
- ISSN
- 1088-9051
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2009, Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License), as described at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. This license permits non-commercial use, including reproduction, adaptation, and distribution of the article provided the original author and source are credited. This published version is reporduced in accordance with this policy.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450154802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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