Molecular characteristics and evolution of the mitochondrial control region in three genera (Hipposideridae: HipposiderosAselliscus and Coelops) of leaf-nosed bats

Abstract

The mitochondrial control region (CR) was sequenced for three genera of Hipposideridae to give a detailed overview of its features. The CR of leaf-nosed bats (1288–1560 bp) was divided into three domains like that of other mammals. In addition to the common conserved blocks (ETAS1, ETAS2, F-B boxes, CSB1, CSB2, and CSB3) found in all species, a CSB1-like element was also detected in the conserved sequence blocks (CSB). Repeated motifs were examined in the ETAS of Aselliscus stoliczkanus (26 bp) and Hipposideros bicolor (80 bp) and were present in the CSB of all individuals (6, 8, 16, and 20 bp). Phylogenetic reconstructions using the CR sequences indicated that the phylogenetic relationships among Hipposideros species were consistent with the results of other molecular and phenetic analyses. Aselliscus and Coelops had a closer relationship. But the central domain could not be used for phylogenetic analyses at family and genus levels due to its high conservation.

Keywords::

• Hipposiderid
• control region
• phylogenetics
• conserved element
• repeated sequences

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Rebecca T. Kimball for her constructive comments and English editing.

Declaration of interest : This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30900132, 31030011, and 91131003) and new teacher fund of doctoral program sponsored by the Ministry of Education of China (20090043120002). The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.