Novel tRNA gene rearrangements in the mitochondrial genomes of praying mantises (Mantodea: Mantidae): Translocation, duplication and pseudogenization

Gene rearrangements have been found in several mitochondrial genomes of Mantodea, located in the gene blocks CR-I-Q-M-ND2, COX1-K-D-ATP8 and ND3-A-R-N-S-E-F-ND5. We have sequenced one mitogenome of Amelidae (Yersinia mexicana) and six mitogenomes of Mantidae to discuss the mitochondrial gene rearrangement and the phylogenetic relationship within Mantidae. These mitogenomes showed rearrangements of tRNA genes except for Asiadodis yunnanensis and Hierodula zhangi. These novel gene rearrangements of Mantidae were primarily concentrated in the region of CR-I-Q-M-ND2, including gene translocation, duplication and pseudogenization. For the occurrences of these rearrangements, the tandem duplication-random loss (TDRL) model and slippedstrand mispairing model were suitable to explain. Large non-coding regions (LNCRs) located in the region of CR-I-Q-M-ND2 were detected in most Mantidae species, whereas some LNCRs had high similarity to the control region (CR). Both BI and ML phylogenetic analyses supported the monophyly of Mantidae and the paraphyly of Mantinae. The phylogenetic results with the gene order and the location of NCRs acted as forceful evidence that specific gene rearrangements and special LNCRs may be synapomorphies for several groups of mantises.

Automated summary

Gene rearrangements have been discovered in several mantodea mitochondrial genomes, primarily concentrated in the region of CR-I-Q-M-ND2. These rearrangements may serve as shared characteristics for different groups within the Mantidae family.