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Title: A novel mitochondrial genome architecture in thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera): extreme size asymmetry among chromosomes and possible recent control region duplication

Author
item DICKEY, AARON - University Of Florida
item KUMAR, VIVEK - University Of Florida
item Morgan, John
item JARA-CAVIERES, ANTONELLA - University Of Florida
item Shatters, Robert - Bob
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: BMC Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2015
Publication Date: 6/19/2015
Citation: Dickey, A., Kumar, V., Morgan, J.K., Jara-Cavieres, A., Shatters, R.G., McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L. 2015. A novel mitochondrial genome architecture in thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera): extreme size asymmetry among chromosomes and possible recent control region duplication. BMC Genomics. 16:439. doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1672-4.

Interpretive Summary: Fragmented mitochondrial genomes are very rare in animals but have been found previously in two insect orders with highly rearranged genomes, the Phthiraptera (parasitic lice), and the Psocoptera (booklice/barklice). We provide the first report of a fragmented mitochondrial genome architecture in a third order with highly rearranged genomes: Thysanoptera (thrips). We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of two different species in the chilli thrips species complex. The East Asia 1 species has the single circular chromosome common to animals while the South Asia 1 species has a genome consisting of two circular chromosomes The fragmented South Asia 1 genome exhibits extreme chromosome size asymmetry with the majority of genes on the large, 14.28 kb, chromosome and only nad6 and trnaC on the 0.92 Kb mini-circle chromosome. The chromosomes feature nearly identical control regions suggesting a very recent origin of the mini-circle chromosome in the South Asia 1 species.

Technical Abstract: Multi-partite mitochondrial genomes are very rare in animals but have been found previously in two insect orders with highly rearranged genomes, the Phthiraptera (parasitic lice), and the Psocoptera (booklice/barklice). We provide the first report of a multi-partite mitochondrial genome architecture in a third order with highly rearranged genomes: Thysanoptera (thrips). We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of two divergent members of the Scirtothrips dorsalis cryptic species complex. The East Asia 1 species has the single circular chromosome common to animals while the South Asia 1 species has a genome consisting of two circular chromosomes The fragmented South Asia 1 genome exhibits extreme chromosome size asymmetry with the majority of genes on the large, 14.28 kb, chromosome and only nad6 and trnaC on the 0.92 Kb mini-circle chromosome. This genome also features paralogous control regions with high similarity suggesting a very recent origin of the nad6 chromosome in the South Asia 1 cryptic species.