Abstract
BackgroundMany population genetic and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) assume that mitochondrial genomes do not undergo recombination. Recently, concerted evolution of duplicated mitochondrial control regions has been documented in a range of taxa. Although the molecular mechanism that facilitates concerted evolution is unknown, all proposed mechanisms involve mtDNA recombination.ResultsHere, we document a duplication of a large region (cytochrome b, tRNAThr, tRNAPro, ND6, tRNAGlu and the control region) in the mitochondrial genome of three related seabird species. To investigate the evolution of duplicate control regions, we sequenced both control region copies (CR1 and CR2) from 21 brown (Sula leucogaster), 21 red-footed (S. sula) and 21 blue-footed boobies (S. nebouxii). Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the duplicated control regions are predominantly evolving in concert; however, approximately 51 base pairs at the 5' end of CR1 and CR2 exhibited a discordant phylogenetic signal and appeared to be evolving independently.ConclusionsBoth the structure of the duplicated region and the conflicting phylogenetic signals are remarkably similar to a pattern found in Thalassarche albatrosses, which are united with boobies in a large clade that includes all procellariiform and most pelecaniform seabirds. Therefore we suggest that concerted evolution of duplicated control regions either is taxonomically widespread within seabirds, or that it has evolved many times.
Highlights
Many population genetic and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA assume that mitochondrial genomes do not undergo recombination
Traditional theory suggests that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene duplication followed by deletion or degeneracy of one of the duplicated copies may lead to mtDNA gene
Mitochondrial DNA still has a foothold in phylogeography and is potentially very informative if used appropriately [28]
Summary
Many population genetic and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) assume that mitochondrial genomes do not undergo recombination. Concerted evolution of duplicated mitochondrial control regions has been documented in a range of taxa. The gene content of vertebrate mitochondrial genomes is highly conserved and consists of 37 genes (13 protein coding genes, two rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes) and a noncoding control region involved in the initiation of transcription and replication [2]. While this same suite of genes is present in all vertebrate mitochondrial genomes, gene order is highly variable. Traditional theory suggests that mtDNA gene duplication followed by deletion or degeneracy of one of the duplicated copies may lead to mtDNA gene
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