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- Title
Presence of nuclear copies of mitochondrial origin ( NUMTs) in two related species of stingless bee genus Melipona ( Hymenoptera: Meliponini).
- Authors
Ruiz, Carlos; J. May‐Itzá, William; Quezada‐EuÁn, J. Javier G.; De la Rúa, Pilar
- Abstract
Transferred copies of mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) into the nuclear genome ( numts) have been reported in several Hymenoptera species, even at a high density in the honey bee nuclear genome. The accidental amplification of numts in phylogenetic studies focused on mt DNA highlights the importance of a correct determination of numts and their related mt DNA sequences. We report here the presence of numts derived from a mitochondrial rDNA 16S gene in the genome of the stingless bee species Melipona colimana and M. fasciata (tribe Meliponini) from Western Mexico. PCR products were cloned in both species obtaining thirty paralogous numts. Numts were identified by the presence of insertions and deletions and the disruption of the 16S secondary structure. Further phylogenetic analyses including alternative mitochondrial cox1 and nuclear ITS1 genes have revealed the presence of another numt ( cox1) in the nuclear genome of these two species, and place both as sister lineages within the subgenus Michmelia. This is one of the first studies reporting the presence of numts in Meliponini species, and supports previous studies suggesting frequent transfer of mt DNA to the nuclear genome in Hymenoptera.
- Subjects
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA analysis; HONEYBEE genetics; STINGLESS bees; PHYLOGENY; MELIPONA; GENOMES
- Publication
Journal of Zoological Systematics & Evolutionary Research, 2013, Vol 51, Issue 2, p107
- ISSN
0947-5745
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jzs.12011