Structure and Evolution of the Mitochondrial DNA Complete Control Region in the Lizard Lacerta dugesii (Lacertidae, Sauria)

Abstract

Abstract. We sequenced the complete control region (CR) and adjacent tRNAs, partial 12S rRNA, and cytochrome b (over 3100 bp) from eight individuals of Madeiran wall lizards, Lacerta dugesii, from four distinct island populations. The tRNAs exhibit a high degree of intraspecific polymorphisms compared to other vertebrates. All CR sequences include a minisatellite that varies in length between populations but is apparently fixed within them. Variation in minisatellite length appears between populations separated by apparently very short evolutionary time spans. Many motifs identified in the CR of other vertebrates are not highly conserved, although conserved blocks are identifiable between the few published reptile CR sequences. Overall there are extensive differences in the internal organization of the reptile CR compared to the more widely studied mammals and birds. Variability in the CR is lower than in cytochrome b, but higher than in 12S rRNA. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences produces a well-resolved estimate of relationships between populations.

Comparison research and phylogenetic implications of mitochondrial control regions in four soft-shelled turtles of Trionychia (Reptilia, Testudinata)

“…The VNTRs of the CR VNTRs of the mtDNA CR had been documented in a wide range of reptile taxa including turtles (Yan et al, 2008;Zhang et al, 2009;Zardoya and Meyer, 1998;Kumazawa and Nishida, 1999), crocodiles (Fang and Xu, 2006) and lizards (Brehm et al, 2003;Kumazawa and Endo, 2004;Rui et al, 2008). In previous studies with turtles and crocodiles, the repeated sequences were identified behind CSB-3 (Yan et al, 2008;Zhang et al, 2009).…”

Genetic diversity and taxonomy: a reassessment of species designation in tuatara (Sphenodon: Reptilia)

“…We note also that island populations of squamates, when isolated for a similar period of time by rising sea levels, exhibit similar or greater levels of genetic divergence in allozymes and mtDNA among populations (e.g. Soulé and Yang 1973;Sarre et al 1990;Brehm et al 2003;Hanley and Caccone 2005;Keogh et al 2005;Terrasa et al 2009). …”

Structure and evolution of the mitochondrial control region and flanking sequences in the European cave salamander Proteus anguinus

“…Downstream from the O H , a putative conserved sequence block apparently homologous with CSB1 in mammals (Sbisà et al, 1997) was identified at position 450. Putative CSBs apparently homologous with CSB2 and CSB3 in A. davidianus (Zhang et al, 2003a), A. tigrinum (Samuels et al, 2005), Lacerta dugesii (Brehm et al, 2003) and mammals (Sbisà et al, 1997) were identified at positions 588 and 635, respectively. Upstream from the O H at 34 bp, a sequence with 58.7-65% identity to the mammalian consensus ETAS1 sequence was located.…”

“…Base composition and nucleotide variation were calculated using MEGA v3.0 (Kumar et al, 2004). Control region domains and elements were identified on the basis of data for mammals (Doda et al, 1981;Chang and Clayton, 1985;Hixson and Clayton, 1985;Sbisà et al, 1997), fish (Nesbø et al, 1998), amphibians (Bogenhagen et al, 1986;McKnight and Shaffer, 1997;Sumida et al, 2000;Zhang et al, 2003a,b), and reptiles (Brehm et al, 2003). Potential secondary structures of the tRNAs and the tandem repeats were identified using RNA mfold v2.3 and DNA mfold v3.1 (Zuker, 2003), respectively.…”