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HEREDITAS ›› 2013, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (7): 847-855.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2013.00847

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Understanding mitochondrial genome fragmentation in parasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)

DONG Wen-Ge1, 2, GUO Xian-Guo1, 2, JIN Dao-Chao1, XUE Shi-Peng3, QIN Feng2, Simon Song5, Stephen C.Barker4, Renfu Shao5   

  1. 1. The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China 2. Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University, Dali 671000, China 3. Nanyang Medical College, Nanyang 473061, China 4. Parasitology Section, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia 5. Genecology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queen-sland, Australia
  • Received:2013-01-03 Revised:2013-02-07 Online:2013-07-20 Published:2013-07-25

Abstract: Lice are obligate ectoparasites of mammals and birds. Extensive fragmentation of mitochondrial genomes has been found in some louse species in the families Pediculidae, Pthiridae, Philopteridae and Trichodectidae. For example, the mt genomes of human body louse (Pediculus humanus), head louse (Pediculus capitis), and public louse (Pthirus pubis) have 20, 20 and 14 mini-chromosomes, respectively. These mini-chromosomes might be the results of deletion and recombination of mt genes. The factors and mechanisms of mitochondrial genome fragmentation are currently unknown. The fragmentation might be the results of evolutionary selection or random genetic drift or it is probably related to the lack of mtSSB (mitochondrial single-strand DNA binding protein). Understanding the fragmentation of mitochondrial genomes is of significance for understanding the origin and evolution of mitochondria. This paper reviews the recent advances in the studies of mito-chondrial genome fragmentation in lice, including the phenomena of mitochondrial genome fragmentation, characteristics of fragmented mitochondrial genomes, and some factors and mechanisms possibly leading to the mitochondrial genome fragmentation of lice. Perspectives for future studies on fragmented mt genomes are also discussed.

Key words: Phthiraptera, mitochondrial genome, chromosome evolution, genome fragmentation