Lizhi Zhou

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Charadriiformes: Laridae)

Abstract The Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus is a waterbird, which breeds from north-east North America and across much of Europe and Asia. In this study, we determined its complete mitochondrial DNA sequence by PCR-based approach. The complete mtDNA sequence is 16,807 bp in size. The overall-based composition was 30.8% A, 31.1% T, 14.2% C, 24.0% G, with an A + T content (54.8%) rich feature. The mitochondrial genome consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region. All protein coding genes use the typical intiation codon ATN, except for COI. TAN is the most frequent stop codon, and AGG and T– – are also occurred very common. The tRNASer(AGN) and tRNALys(CUN) lacked the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm and formed a simple loop.

Mitochondrial genome of the Alpine musk deer Moschus chrysogaster (Artiodactyla: Ruminantia: Moschidae)

The Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) is an endangered species, which is distributed on the plateau and mountains, mainly in Neimenggu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and other places. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of M. chrysogaster. The circle genome was 16,354 bp and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 1 control region (CR). The CR was located between the tRNAPro and tRNAPhe genes and is 924 bp in length. Overall base composition of the complete mitochondrial DNA was 34.0% A, 28.0% T, 25.1% C, and 12.9% G. The M. chrysogaster mitochondrial genome had 21 tRNA genes folded in the typical cloverleaf structure, with a unique exception of tRNASer.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Predatory carp Chanodichthys erythropterus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae).

Abstract Predatory carp Chanodichthys erythropterus is a small-sized economic cyprinid fish distributed in East Asia. We sequenced its complete mitochondrial genome by PCR-based method. The mitochondrial DNA is packaged in a compact 16,629 base pair (bp) circular molecule with A + T content of 56.1%. It contains 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and the non-coding control region (D-loop). All PCGs are initiated by ATG codons, except for COI, which uses GTG as its start codon. Of the 13 PCGs, 12 stop with TAA and TAG, while Cyt b uses incomplete termination codon T. All tRNAs possess the classic cloverleaf secondary structure except for tRNASer(AGN), which lacks the ‘‘DHU’’ stem.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus (Falconiformes: Accipitridae).

Abstract In this study we report the complete mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequence from Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus, a large raptorial bird species of Falconiformes. The mtDNA is a 17,811-bp circular molecule with a total A + T content of 54.03%. The mitochondrial genome contains 37 genes and an extra pseudo-control region. The gene arrangement pattern is identical to Buteo and Falco, which has remnant CR2 gene order. All protein-coding genes use the standard mitochondrial initiation codon ATN, except for COI start with GTG. Of the 13 protein coding genes, 11 stop with TAN, the COI and ND1 stop with AGG. All tRNAs possess the classic clover-leaf secondary structure except for tRNASer (AGN) and tRNALys (CUN), which lacks the “DHU” stem, only forming a simple loop. The non-coding region contains some intergenic spacers, a control region and an extra pseudo-control region.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Brown wood owl Strix leptogrammica (Strigiformes: Strigidae).

Abstract The mitochondrial genome of Brown wood owl is a 16,308-bp circular molecule, which contains 37 typical mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs) and a 741-bp A + T-rich region. Its gene arrangement pattern is identical with typical bird species. All protein-coding genes start with an ATG codon. TAA is the most frequent stop codon, and TAG and T- are also occurred very common. The mtDNA sequence contains 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA of rRNA. Except for tRNASer (AGY) and tRNALeu (CUN) without the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm, all tRNAs could be folded into canonical cloverleaf secondary structures.

Population genetic structure and molecular diversity of the red swamp crayfish in China based on mtDNA COI gene sequences

Abstract Population genetic structure and molecular diversity are closely related to adaptability, potential and evolutionary of a species, which also reflects its population history. We analyzed the molecular variability and genetic structure among 24 populations of the red swamp crayfish in China based on the COI region. The COI of 687 bp aligned across 44 haplotypes, the average AT content (68.1%) was slightly higher than the AT content (31.9%). AMOVA indicated that a high proportion of the total genetic variance was attributable to variations within populations (87.57%), whereas only 12.43% occurred among populations. The Fst values were between 0.016 and 0.585, and the Nm values were between 0.178 and 15.182 in each population. All of the AMOVA, Fst statistics and Nm values suggested low genetic differentiation, but a high level genetic diversity existed in Chinese populations of Procambarus clarkii. The phylogenetic trees showed that some geographical populations were irregularly distributed according to the river systems while others were matched well, suggesting that genetic differentiation is created largely by geographic isolation.

Mitochondrial genome of the Anhui musk deer (Moschus anhuiensis)

The Anhui musk deer (Moschus anhuiensis) is an endangered species which is endemic to a narrow region in two National Nature Reserves in Dabie Mountains, Anhui Province, China. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of M. anhuiensis. The results showed that the total length of the mitogenome was 16,351 bp as a circular DNA and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 control region. Overall base composition of the complete mitochondrial DNA was 34.0% A, 28.1% T, 25.0% C, and 12.9% G. The M. anhuiensis mitochondrial genome had 21 tRNA genes folded in the typical cloverleaf structure, with a unique exception of tRNASer. The mitochondrial genes from M. anhuiensis were overlapped in a total of 72 bp at seven locations, as well as interleaved with a total of 62 bp intergenic spacers.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Naumann's thrush Turdus naumanni (Passeriformes: Turdidae).

Abstract The mitochondrial DNA of Naumann’s thrush Turdus naumanni (Passeriformes: Turdidae) is 16,750 bp long with A + T contents of 52.79%. It has typical circular mitochondrial genomes that encode the complete set of 37 genes which are usually found in birds. All protein-coding genes use the standard mitochondrial initiation codon ATG, except for ND2 and COI start with GTG. TAN is the most frequent stop codon, and AGN and T– – are also occurred very common. All tRNAs possess the classic clover leaf secondary structure except for tRNASer(AGN) and tRNALys(CUN), which lack the “DHU” stem, only forming a simple loop.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus jankowskii (Anseriformes: Anatidae)

Abstract Cygnus columbianus jankowskii is a subspecies of Tundra swan, which breeds in eastern Russia and northeast China, wintering in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In this study, we used PCR-based method to obtain the complete mtDNA of this subspecies. The arrangement pattern of the complete mtDNA is identical with typical bird species, which is the shortest (16,723 bp) in three subspecies. The length of the PCGs is same except ND2, ND3 and ND6, and the initiation/termination codons are all same with other subspecies. The length of 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA is same with C. c. columbianus, but different from C. c. bewickii. The length and structure of all tRNAs are the same with other subspecies except for tRNAIle, tRNAleu(CUN) and tRNAser(AGY). The control region is located between tRNAPhe and tRNAGlu, but the length is different with others.

Isolation and Characterization of Microsatellite DNA Markers for the Oriental White Stork, Ciconia boyciana

Following FIASCO protocol and across-amplification approach, we present eleven microsatellite primers of the Oriental White stork, Ciconia boyciana in this article. All loci were polymorphic, except for locus Cbo235, which possessed two alleles but was homozygous in all 23 individuals of C. boyciana used in this study. The number of the alleles per locus ranged from two to eight, and the observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (HE) ranged from 0 to 0.857 and 0.222 to 0.851, respectively. These markers are proved useful in genetic study of C. boyciana.