Unique mitochondrial gene rearrangement in corals

Unique mitochondrial gene rearrangement in caryophylliid scleractinian corals

Traditional Caryophylliidae has been known as the most speciose scleractinian coral family. Mito/nuclear phylogenomics point that some caryophylliids that form a clade (“true” Caryophylliidae) have unique mt gene rearrangement: a transposition of the gene block containing cob, nad2, and nad6, which is located between nad5 5’ exon and trnW. Such mitochondrial gene rearrangement is proposed as a synapomorphy of “true” Caryophylliidae. Skeletal microstructure provides additional support for distinct position of “caryophylliids” with or without the mitochondrial gene rearrangement.

PUBLICATION: Seiblitz, I. G. L., Vaga, C. F., Capel, K. C. C., Cairns, S. D., Stolarski, J., Quattrini, A.M., Kitahara, M. V. 2022. Caryophylliids (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) and mitochondrial gene order: Insights from mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenomics. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107565