The complete mitochondrial genome of common fouling barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite (Darwin, 1854) (Sessilia: Balanidae) reveals gene rearrangements compared to pancrustacean ground pattern

Abstract

Here we present the complete mitochondrial genome of the common fouling barnacle, Amphibalanus amphitrite (Sessilia: Balanidae). Refer to pancrustacean mitochondrial ground pattern, seven conserved genes blocks are found in A. amphitrite mitochondrial genome. On the other hand, translocations of at least six tRNAs (trnA, trnE/trnS₂, trnP/trnT, trnK, trnQ and trnC) are identified and translocation and inversion occurred simultaneously in one tRNAs (trnY). Comparison among the acorn barnacle mitogenomes reveals inversion of a six-gene block (trnP-nd4L-nd4-trnH-nd5-trnF) between A. amphitrite and Megabalanus. Volcano (Balanidae), suggesting non-conserved gene order even at intrafamilial level. The three species share three conserved genes blocks, of which the two are derived from the pancrustacean ground pattern and represent synapomorphies of acorn barnacles. In sum, large-scale gene rearrangements are observed in A. amphitrite mitochondrial genome as compared to the pancrustacean ground pattern and other barnacle species.

• Balanomorpha
• Cirripedia
• Crustacea
• gene rearrangement
• Maxillopoda
• mitochondrial genome
• pancrustacean ground pattern
• Sessilia

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article. This study was supported by a project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, the Hong Kong Scholars Program (XJ2012056) and the Career Development Award in Academia Sinica, Taiwan (AS-98-CDA-L15).