Highly conserved d-loop sequences in woolly mouse opossums Marmosa (Micoureus)

Abstract

This study reports the occurrence of highly conserved d-loop sequences in the mitochondrial genome of the woolly mouse opossum genus Marmosa subgenus Micoureus (Mammalia, Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae). Sixty-six sequences of Marmosa (Micoureus) demerarae, Marmosa (Micoureus) constantiae, and Marmosa (Micoureus) paraguayanus were amplified using universal d-loop primers and virtually no genetic differences were detected within and among species. These sequences matched the control region of the mitochondrial marsupial genome. Analyses of qualitative aspects of these sequences revealed that their structural composition is very similar to the d-loop region of other didelphid species. However, the total lack of variability has not been reported from other closely related species. The data analyzed here support the occurrence of highly conserved d-loop sequences, and we found no support for the hypothesis that these sequences are d-loop-like nuclear pseudogenes. Furthermore, the control and flanking regions obtained with different primers corroborate the lack of variability of the d-loop sequences in the mitochondrial genome of Marmosa (Micoureus).

Keywords::

• Didelphidae
• control region
• marsupials
• mitochondrial DNA

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Ana C. Loss for laboratory assistance. The molecular facility at UFES was established with funds from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). This work was partially supported by two PhD grants from Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia (Program POPH-QREN) to Rita G. Rocha (ref: SFRH/BD/24767/2005) and Eduardo Ferreira (ref: SFRH/BD/23191/2005). Leonora P. Costa and Yuri L. R. Leite received research grant and fellowship support from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil). We also thank an anonymous reviewer and the editor Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis for valuable comments and suggestions on a previous version of this manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.