The complete mitochondrial genome of the deep-sea stony coral Solenosmilia variabilis (Scleractinia, Caryophylliidae) and its inter-individual variation

Abstract

Three individual-specific DNA libraries of the deep-sea scleractinian coral Solenosmilia variabilis (Duncan, 1873) were constructed to obtain complete mitochondrial genomes using the 454 Life Science pyrosequencing system. Two mitogenomes were successfully assembled: both were 15,968 bp in length, with base composition of A (24.2%), T (41.1%), C (13.7%) and G (21.0%). The genome contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 2 transfer RNA genes and a D-loop region. The two mitogenomes were almost identical, with only 5 nucleotide differences (0.03%), including a synonymous substitution within the nad1, nad2 and nad4L genes, and two transversions in the D-loop region. This inter-individual variation indicates that these genes and/or region are potential candidates as molecular markers for population genetic research. The mitogenome of S. variabilis will be useful for future phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of deep-sea corals.

• Deep sea
• mitogenome
• Scleractinia
• Solenosmilia variabilis

Acknowledgements

Samples were collected by NIWA using an epibenthic sled during the Louisville Seamount Chain voyage (TAN1402). We thank the scientists and crew of voyage TAN1402 who collected the coral specimens. We are grateful to Sadie Mills and Kareen Schnabel (NIWA Invertebrate Collection), for their diligent assistance with specimen samples.

Declaration of interest

This study was supported by funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The voyage was part of the South Pacific Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems Project funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (C01X1229), and was also supported by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. This research was also funded by NIWA under Coasts and Oceans Research Programme 2 Marine Biological Resources: Discovery and definition of the marine biota of New Zealand (2014/2015 SCI).