Moongeun Yoon

Genetic Variation in the Asian Shore Crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus in Korean Coastal Waters as Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

Genetic variation in the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus was determined from partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of the cytochrome b (Cytb) gene. Samples included 143 crabs from six localities along three coastlines in South Korea. A nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 38 variable sites in a 470-bp sequence, which defined 37 haplotypes. The haplotypes were not associated geographically and had a shallow genealogy. Pairwise F ST tests and a two-dimensional scaling analysis revealed no significant genetic differentiation among most of the populations. The low pairwise comparison values, but significant genetic differentiation of a northeastern population from all other populations, might have been influenced by a restriction in gene flow caused by hydrographic conditions such as ocean boundaries. The high haplotype diversity, low nucleotide diversity, and time since H. sanguineus expansion in Korean coastal waters indicate rapid population growth and a recent, sudden expansion in the Late Pleistocene.

Population Genetic Structure and Phylogeography of Masu Salmon (Oncorhynchus Masou Masou) Inferred from Mitochondrial and Microsatellite DNA Analyses

The population genetic structure and phylogeography of masu salmon were investigated by using variation in the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene (ND5) and six polymorphic microsatellite loci among a total of 895 fish representing 18 populations collected from Japan (9), Russia (7), and Korea (2) from 2000 to 2008. An analysis of ND5 nucleotide sequences revealed 22 variable sites in about 560 bp in the 5′ half of the gene, which defined 20 haplotypes, including some associated with geographical regions. Haplotype and nucleotide diversities were greater in the populations in Japan and Korea than in those in Russia, indicating greater genetic diversity in the Japanese and Korean populations than in the Russian populations. All the microsatellite loci examined showed a high level of variation, but the expected heterozygosity indicated a similar level of genetic diversity among the populations of the three regions, contrary to the results for ND5. However, AMOVA and pairwise population F ST estimates for both ND5 and the microsatellite markers indicated a similar pattern of moderate genetic differentiation among populations of the three regions, and large population groups on the coasts of the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and Pacific Ocean in the Far East. From a mismatch distribution analysis and neutrality test, the observed genetic structure appears to have been influenced primarily by bottlenecks during glacial periods and population expansions during interglacial periods in the late Pleistocene.

Genetic Diversity and Gene Flow Patterns in Pollicipes mitella in Korea Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis

Genetic diversity and gene flow patterns in Pollicipes mitella were investigated with a nucleotide sequence analysis of 514 base pairs from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) in 124 samples collected from six Korean populations. In total, 59 haplotypes were defined by 40 variable nucleotide sites in the COI region. The haplotypes had shallow haplotype genealogy and no geographic associations. All populations had high haplotype diversity (0.909 to 0.979) and low nucleotide diversity (0.0055 to 0.0098). The haplotypes with recently diverged nucleotides were distributed by long-range larvae dispersal among regional populations. The pairwise fixation indices ( FST) estimated with the exact test and migration rates indicate that substantial gene flow has occurred among populations as a result of sea currents, except between the Uljin (East Sea coast) and other Korean populations. This suggests that significant genetic differentiation and low migration rates have affected the Uljin population.

Full-length mitochondrial genome of the triton trumpet Charonia lampas (Littorinimorpha: Ranellidae)

Abstract The full-length mitochondrial genome of the triton trumpet Charonia lampas (Linnaeus, 1758) was analyzed by the primer walking method. Its mitogenome is 15,382 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The gene order of C. lampas is congruent with those previously reported for the infraorder Littorinimorpha. This is the first full-length mitogenome sequence for the genus Charonia. In the phylogenetic tree, C. lampas formed a monophyletic group with the other species of the superfamily Tonnoidea, but did not show the closest phylogenetic relationship to a species from the same family, Ranellidae.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Gymnogobius heptacanthus (Perciformes, gobiidae)

Abstract Gymnogobius heptacanthus is a small intertidal species belonging to the family Gobiidae. Herein, we report the first sequencing and assembly of the complete mitochondrial genome of G. heptacanthus. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16,529 bp long and has the typical vertebrate mitochondrial gene arrangement, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region. Phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial genomes of 12 species showed that G. heptacanthus is clustered with G. urotaenia and G. petschiliensis and rooted with other Gobiidae species. This mitochondrial genome provides potentially important resources for addressing taxonomic issues and studying molecular evolution.

Genetic structure of Larimichthys polyactis (Pisces: Sciaenidae) in the Yellow and East China Seas inferred from microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses

Abstract Genetic variation was surveyed at four microsatellite loci and 1416 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI) to clarify the genetic structure of the small yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis, in the Yellow and East China Seas, especially regarding four provisional populations, (one Korean and three Chinese populations). Based on microsatellite DNA variations, the estimated expected heterozygosity (H E) in each population ranged from 0.776 to 0.947. The microsatellite pairwise F ST estimates showed no significant genetic differentiation between the populations. MtDNA variations also indicated no genetic structure in L. polyactis, but very high variability. The absence of genetic differentiation among and within populations of L. polyactis may either result from the random migration of the adult or the passive dispersal of the eggs and larvae.

Genetic Structure in Wild Populations of Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis in Korea and Japan

We investigated the genetic structure of Korean and Japanese ayu Plecoglossus altivelis populations by examining 669 individuals from 14 populations using three microsatellite loci. Genetic variation did not differ significantly among the populations examined in terms of allelic number and heterozygosity. Korean populations were genetically close to each other, implying that persistent gene flow has occurred in these populations. This suggests that eastern populations in Korea form a single large population and all of the Korean populations are distinct from the Japanese populations. Pairwise population F ST estimates, principal component analyses, and a neighbor-joining tree showed that genetic separation between the southern and pooled eastern coast populations was probably influenced by restricted gene flow. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a weak but significant genetic structure among three ayu groups (eastern and southern coasts of Korea and the Japan coast), and no genetic variation within groups. The estimated genetic population structure and potential applications of microsatellite markers may aid in the proper management of ayu populations.

Preliminary estimation of chum salmon stock composition in the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean using polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers

Variation at the three microsatellite (ms) DNA loci in chum salmon was applied to estimate preliminarily the stock composition using a conditional maximum likelihood method in more than 700 fish collected from 14 stations in the Bering Sea and adjacent North Pacific Ocean during September 2003. Regional stock assignment accuracy with these msDNA markers was nearly the same as the previous estimation with mitochondrial (mt) DNA for the Japanese and North American stocks, but decreased for Russian stocks. The temporal stock estimation with msDNA gave a nonrandom distribution pattern of chum stocks, in that the Japanese and Russian stocks increased in the western to central Bering Sea, and the North American stocks were abundant in the eastern Bering Sea and near the Aleutian Islands. However, predominance of the North American stocks in nearly all of the surveyed area was different from the previous mtDNA estimation.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Alveopora japonica (Scleractinia: Acroporidae)

Abstract Here, for the first time, we sequenced the complete mitogenome of Alveopora japonica Eguchi, 1968 (Scleractinia: Acroporidae). Genome size was 17,886 bp with 13 protein-coding, two rRNA, and two tRNA genes. This gene composition was identical to the typical scleractinian pattern. Our results strongly support the recent transfer of this coral species to the family Acroporidae.

Complete sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Auriculastra duplicata (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Ellobiidae)

Abstract The mitochondrial genome of the gastropod Auriculastra duplicata was completely sequenced. It was 13,920 bp in length and comprised 37 genes; two rrn genes and 22 trn genes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated protein-coding genes depicted the polyphyly of all species belonging to the family Ellobiidae; however, monophyly was observed among all species belonging to the subfamily Ellobiinae, in which A. duplicata clustered consistently with Auriculinella bidentata.