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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #132604
Title: LONG-PCR AS A TOOL FOR DETECTING REARRANGEMENTS OF ARTHROPOD MTDNA

Author
item Roehrdanz, Richard
item DEGRUGILLIER, MAURICE - USDA-ARS RETIRED
item BLACK, WILLIAM - CO STATE UNIV, FT COLLINS

Submitted to: Molecular Insect Science International Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2002
Publication Date: 7/1/2002
Citation: Roehrdanz, R.L., Degrugillier, M.E., Black, W.C. 2002. Long-pcr as a tool for detecting rearrangements of arthropod mtdna [abstract]. Molecular Insect Science International Symposium Proceedings. Journal of Insect Science 2:17 p. 47-48.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rearrangements of the mitochondrial DNA gene order have been used to help define the pattern of evolutionary divergence in arthropod taxa. We have employed a combination of highly conserved insect-based PCR primers with long-PCR to survey fourteen non-insect arthropods for mitochondrial gene rearrangements. The size of the amplified fragments was used to order the primer containing genes. Five chelicerates exhibit amplicons that are consistent with the insect mtDNA gene order. These five species comprise two soft ticks, two prostriate hard ticks and a harvestman. Six other chelicerates, all metastriate hard ticks, have a different arrangement that has been previously detailed in a complete mtDNA sequence. Three new major gene realignments of major coding regions were found. They were obtained from a terrestrial crustacean (Isopoda, sowbug) and two myriapods (Chilopoda, centipede; Diplopoda, millipede). In addition we found two possible new positions for tRNAMet in arthropods. A crustacean isopod and a myriapod diplopod have tRNAMet positioned between the 12S and 16S rRNAs on the downstream side of 12S. A myriapod chilopod appears to have tRNAMet located between CytB and ND4. The long-PCR approach affords an opportunity to screen larger numbers of divergent taxa for major rearrangements. Efficiency of the method would likely be improved with the use of primers derived from taxa more closely related to those being investigated and not relying entirely on insect primers. Detailed sequencing of gene boundaries or entire mt genomes can be reserved for those taxa that exhibit significant new patterns of mtDNA organization.