Mitochondrial genome deletions and minicircles are common in lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The gene composition, gene order and structure of the mitochondrial genome are remarkably stable across bilaterian animals. Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are a major exception to this genomic stability in that the canonical single chromosome with 37 genes found in almost all other bilaterians has been lost in multiple lineages in favour of multiple, minicircular chromosomes with less than 37 genes on each chromosome.

Results

Minicircular mt genomes are found in six of the ten louse species examined to date and three types of minicircles were identified: heteroplasmic minicircles which coexist with full sized mt genomes (type 1); multigene chromosomes with short, simple control regions, we infer that the genome consists of several such chromosomes (type 2); and mult

SUBMITTER: Cameron SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3199782 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature