Patterns of natural selection acting on the mitochondrial genome of a locally adapted fish species.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is frequently used in population genetic studies and is usually considered as a neutral marker. However, given the functional importance of the proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome, and the prominent role of mitochondria in cellular energy production, the assumption of neutrality is increasingly being questioned.

Results

We tested for evidence of selection on the mitochondrial genome of the Atlantic salmon, which is a locally adapted and widely farmed species and is distributed across a large latitudinal cline. We analysed 20 independent regions of the salmon mtDNA that represented nine genes (ND1, ND2, ND3, COX1, COX2, ATP6, ND4, ND5, and CYTB). These 20 mtDNA regions were sequenced using a 454 approach from samples collected acr

SUBMITTER: Consuegra S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4490732 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature