Molecular phylogeography and population structure of a mid-elevation montane frog Leptobrachium ailaonicum in a fragmented habitat of southwest China

Leptobrachium ailaonicum is a vulnerable anuran restricted to a patchy distribution associated with small mountain streams surrounded by forested slopes at mid-elevations (approximately 2000-2600 m) in the subtropical Mount Wuliang and Mount Ailao ranges in southwest China (Yunnan Province) and northern Vietnam. Given high habitat specificity and lack of suitable habitat in lower elevations between these ranges, we hypothesized limited gene flow between populations throughout its range. We used two mitochondrial genes to construct a phylogeographic pattern within this species in order to test our hypothesis. We also examined whether this phylogeographic pattern is a response to past geological events and/or climatic oscillations. A total of 1989 base pairs were obtained from 81 individuals of nine populations yielding 51 unique haplotypes. Both Bayesian and maximum parsimony phylogenetic analyses revealed four deeply divergent and reciprocally monophyletic mtDNA lineages that approximately correspond to four geographical regions separated by deep river valleys. These results suggest a long history of allopatric separation by vicariance. The distinct geographic distributions of four major clades and the estimated divergence time suggest spatial and temporal separations that coincide with climatic and paleogeographic changes following the orogeny and uplift of Mount Ailao during the late Miocene to mid Pliocene in southwest China. At the southern distribution, the presence of two sympatric yet differentiated clades in two areas are interpreted as a result of secondary contact between previously allopatric populations during cooler Pleistocene glacial cycles. Analysis of molecular variance indicates that most of the observed genetic variation occurs among the four regions implying long-term interruption of maternal gene flow, suggesting that L ailaonicum may represent more than one distinct species and should at least be separated into four management units corresponding to these four geographic lineages for conservation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A critical reassessment of the role of mitochondria in tumorigenesis

Background Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is being analyzed by an increasing number of laboratories in order to investigate its potential role as an active marker of tumorigenesis in various types of cancer. Here we question the conclusions drawn in most of these investigations, especially those published in high-rank cancer research journals, under the evidence that a significant number of these medical mtDNA studies are based on obviously flawed sequencing results. Methods and Findings In our analyses, we take a phylogenetic approach and employ thorough database searches, which together have proven successful for detecting erroneous sequences in the fields of human population genetics and forensics. Apart from conceptual problems concerning the interpretation of mtDNA variation in tumorigenesis, in most cases, blocks of seemingly somatic mutations clearly point to contamination or sample mix-up and, therefore, have nothing to do with tumorigenesis. Conclusion The role of mitochondria in tumorigenesis remains unclarified. Our findings of laboratory errors in many contributions would represent only the tip of the iceberg since most published studies do not provide the raw sequence data for inspection, thus hindering a posteriori evaluation of the results. There is no precedent for such a concatenation of errors and misconceptions affecting a whole subfield of medical research.

Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity and origin of Chinese domestic yak

In order to clarify the origin and genetic diversity of yak in China, we analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (similar to 891 bp) in 52 individuals from four domestic yak (Poephagus grunniens) breeds, as well as from a hybrid betwee

Co-occurrence of A1555G and G11778A in a Chinese family with high penetrance of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy

Co-occurrence of double pathogenic mtDNA mutations with different claimed pathological roles in one mtDNA is infrequent. It is tentative to believe that each of these pathogenic mutations would have its own deleterious effect. Here we reported one three-g

Mitochondrial DNA mutation m.3635G > A may be associated with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in Chinese

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) was the first disease to be linked to the presence of a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation. Nowadays over 95% of LHON cases are known to be caused by one of three primary mutations (m.11778G>A, m.14484T>C, and m.34

Median network analysis of defectively sequenced entire mitochondrial genomes from early and contemporary disease studies

Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genome has become a routine method in the study of mitochondrial diseases. Quite often, the sequencing efforts in the search of pathogenic or disease-associated mutations are affected by technical and interpretive pr

Exaggerated Status of

Given its relative ease, screening the entire mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for heteroplasmic or novel homoplasmic mutations has become part of the routine diagnostic workup for the molecular geneticist confronted with a disease case exhibiting clinical and b

Genetic diversity of Chinese domestic goat based on the mitochondrial DNA sequence variation

The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity of domestic goat in China. For this purpose, we determined the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in 72 individuals of the Yangtze River delta white goat, and reanalysed

Matrilineal Components and Genetic Relationship of Silkies from China and Japan

Silkie is a famous black-bone chicken breed with beautiful silky feather. The unique medical property of this chicken was recorded in Chinese traditional medicine dictionary about 700 years ago. In this study, we analyzed the mtDNA D-loop sequence variation of 26 Bairong Silkies from Fujian Province, China, together with 100 reported Silkie mtDNAs from China and Japan, and studied their matrilineal components and genetic relationship. A total of 21 haplotypes were detected, which could be assigned to six haplogroups (A-E, G). Among them, haplogroups D and G were exclusively presented in Japanese Silkies and Chinese Silkies, respectively. Chinese Silkies had higher frequency of lineages belonging to haplogroups A, B, and E, and lower frequency of haplogroup C than Japanese Silkies. For the four Chinese Silkie populations, most of samples of Taihe, Chengdu, and Hubei Silkies were grouped in haplogroups A, B, and C, whereas most of Bairong Silkies were grouped in haplogroup E. Five haplotypes were shared by Japanese and Chinese Silkies. The genetic diversity of each Silkie population varied, but the overall diversity of Chinese Silkies was similar to that of Japanese Silkies. Taken together, our results confirmed the genetic connection between Chinese and Japanese Silkies, but also clearly showed that the matrilineal genetic structures of Chinese and Japanese Silkies had some differences.

四种犬科(Canidae)动物线粒体DNA分子进化

以9种限制性内切酶分析家犬、狼、赤狐、貉共7只动物的线粒体DNA限制性片段长度多态性(mtDNA PFLP), 通过双酶解法构建各种动物的限制性内切酶图谱, 用UPG法、NJ法和简略法分析这些动物之间的遗传关系。结果表明: 犬的各体差异小, 而赤狐的各体间遗传分化程度非常高; 犬和狼的亲缘关系很近, 应是同一种动物; 在属间关系中, 犬属与狐属的关系较接近, 貉属是一个较早分化的独立分支。

THE ORIGIN AND GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION OF NATIVE BREEDS OF PIGS IN SOUTHWEST CHINA - AN APPROACH FROM MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA POLYMORPHISM

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of six breeds of native domestic pigs from Yunnan province, southwest China, and two wild boars obtained from Sichuan, China, and Vietnam was analyzed using 20 restriction endonucleases that recognize six nucleotides. Restriction maps were made by double-digestion methods and polymorphic sites were located on the map. According to their mtDNA restriction types, all the breeds were classified into six groups. Genetic distances among groups were calculated to define their phylogenetic relationships. The relationship between the Sichuan wild boar and domestic pigs is close, while the Vietnamese wild boar is relatively far from them, so the domestic pigs in southwest China are likely to have originated from a wild pig which distributed in west China. We compare our results with previous reports in literature and discuss the relationship among Chinese pigs, Japanese pigs, and European pigs. The mtDNA cleavage pattern of the Mingguang pig digested by EcoRV was identical to that of Duroc; mutations at the EcoRI site, detected in the mtDNA of two Dahe pigs, are the same as in the Vietnamese wild boar, suggesting that mutational hot spots exist in the mtDNA of pigs.

Variation in mitochondrial DNA and phylogeny of six species of pikas (Ochotona)

Phylogenetic relationships of six species of Ochotona were investigated using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction-site analysis. The phylogenetic tree constructed using PAUP was based on 62 phylogenetically informative sites with O. erythrotis designated as an outgroup. Two clades were evident. One contained O. curzoniae, O. huangensis, and O. thibetana. in the second, O. daurica was a sister taxon of O. cansus. The five species appear to come from different maternal lineages. The branching structure of the tree and sequence divergence confirm that huangensis and cansus are distinct species, and that mol-osa is a synonym of O. cansus rather than O. thibetana. Divergence time, estimated from genetic distances, indicates that the ancestors of the two maternal lineages diverged ca. 6.5 x 10(6) years ago. O. curzoniae diverged from O. huangensis, and O. daurica diverged from O. cansus, at about the same time (ca. 3.4 x 10(6) years ago). These data suggest a period of rapid radiation of the genus Ochotona in China, perhaps during the late Pliocene. These calculations correspond roughly to tectonic events and environmental changes in China throughout this period, and appear to be substantiated by the fossil record.

青海湖裸鲤的起源和花斑裸鲤的种群演化

通过线粒体Cytb基因全序列分析,探讨了青海湖裸鲤和花斑裸鲤的起源关系及其进化模式.系统发育分析进一步支持了青海湖裸鲤和花斑裸鲤3个mtDNA谱系的划分.形态上具有高鳃耙变异的个体未形成特有的进化枝,证明了第一鳃弓外鳃耙变异并不具有系统发育意义.对青海湖裸鲤和花斑裸鲤进化枝扩散模式的网络分析表明,黄河独有的单倍型A1是一个创立者单倍型,全部青海湖裸鲤的样品来自于它的辐射,而青海湖裸鲤可能仅仅起源于黄河花斑裸鲤两个主要支系中的一个.Fs检验和核苷酸不配对分析暗示了青海湖裸鲤和柴达木盆地花斑裸鲤在历史上经历过

两种鲿科鱼类在长江和珠江流域Cytb基因序列变异性分析

采用PCR技术获得了长江和珠江流域的两种科鱼类 1 1 37bpCytb基因的片段 ,进行了序列测定 ,并用Mega软件进行了序列分析。研究发现两种科鱼类的全序列从第十位碱基起有一个三联体密码子的缺失 ,推测为鲇形目鱼类Cytb序列所特有特征。黄颡鱼和大鳍种群间的序列差异分别为 0 .4 %和 1 .6 % ,介于一般淡水鱼类mtDNA种内序列的变异范围 ,而高于洄游鱼类序列变异。黄颡鱼属和属Cytb基因序列间的差异为 1 7.6 %— 1 8.0 % ,大大高于种间的序列差异率 ,也从分子水平上

鲤鱼3个亚种线粒体DNA ND5/6区段的PCR-RFLP分析及亚种间分子标记的确立

从鲤鱼3个亚种(Cyprinus carpio carpio,Cyprinus carpio haematopterus和Cyprinus carpiorubrofuscus)中选出具代表性的品系共10个,运用PCR方法,扩增出2.4 kb的mtDNA ND5/6区段.共用9种限制性内切酶进行酶切分析,结果表明,每个亚种拥有一种单倍型,有4种限制性内切酶(Dde I,Hae III,Taq I和Mbo I)酶切后产生了能将3个亚种区分开来的诊断性限制性酶切位点.可利用其作为鉴定3个亚种的遗传标记和遗传育种