Fast-evolving mitochondrial DNA in Ceriantharia: a reflection of hexacorallia paraphyly?

Sérgio N Stampar; Maximiliano M Maronna; Marcelo V Kitahara; James D Reimer; André C Morandini

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086612

Fast-evolving mitochondrial DNA in Ceriantharia: a reflection of hexacorallia paraphyly?

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 27;9(1):e86612. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086612. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Sérgio N Stampar¹, Maximiliano M Maronna², Marcelo V Kitahara³, James D Reimer⁴, André C Morandini⁵

Affiliations

¹ Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Laboratório de Biologia Aquática - LABIA, Faculdade de Ciências e Letras de Assis, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Assis, São Paulo, Brazil ; Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Biologia Marinha, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁴ Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.
⁵ Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

The low evolutionary rate of mitochondrial genes in Anthozoa has challenged their utility for phylogenetic and systematic purposes, especially for DNA barcoding. However, the evolutionary rate of Ceriantharia, one of the most enigmatic "orders" within Anthozoa, has never been specifically examined. In this study, the divergence of mitochondrial DNA of Ceriantharia was compared to members of other Anthozoa and Medusozoa groups. In addition, nuclear markers were used to check the relative phylogenetic position of Ceriantharia in relation to other Cnidaria members. The results demonstrated a pattern of divergence of mitochondrial DNA completely different from those estimated for other anthozoans, and phylogenetic analyses indicate that Ceriantharia is not included within hexacorallians in most performed analyses. Thus, we propose that the Ceriantharia should be addressed as a separate clade.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Base Sequence
Bayes Theorem
DNA Primers / genetics
DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
Evolution, Molecular*
Genetic Variation*
Likelihood Functions
Models, Genetic
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sea Anemones / classification*
Sea Anemones / genetics*
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Species Specificity

Substances

DNA Primers
DNA, Mitochondrial
DNA, Ribosomal

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) 2012/01771, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, PROEX) through the Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia do Departamento de Zoologia IB-USP and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - Universal 481549/2012-9 to SNS and JDR was supported by the Rising Star Program and the International Research Hub Project for Climate Change and Coral Reef/Island Dynamics at the University of the Ryukyus. This work was partly supported by grants 2012/01771 (SNS), 2010/50174-7 (ACM), 2006/56211-6(MMM) and 2011/17537 (MVK), São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.