Complete mitochondrial genome recovered from the gut metagenome of overwintering monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae)

Abstract

We present a 15,314 bp mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence from monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico. The complete mitogenome was generated by next generation sequencing techniques and was reconstructed by iterative assembly of reads from a metagenomic study of pooled butterfly gut DNA. The mitogenome codes for 13 putative protein coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, the large and small rRNA genes, and contains the A + T-rich sequence corresponding to the control region. The consensus sequence presented here has a depth of coverage of 142-fold and only three putative single nucleotide polymorphisms could be detected. The recovered D. plexippus mitogenome represents the second analyzed for the subfamily Danainae and accordingly, the closest available sequenced mitogenome was found to be the one corresponding to Euploea mulciber (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae).

• Danaus plexippus
• lepidoptera
• metagenomics
• mitochondrial genome
• Nymphalidae

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas from UNAM, Dr Ricardo Grande, MSc. Verónica Jiménez and Dr Enrique Morett from the University Unit for Massive Sequencing, UNAM for sample sequencing and Dr David Romero who provided a research permit as Director of the Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM. Director Rosendo Antonio Caro-Gomez provided a permit for samplings at the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) in Mexico. Felipe Martínez Meza, Katia Lemus Ramírez and Genaro Mondragón Contreras from the MBBR provided crucial support for samplings. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico also provided a permit for samplings.