TY - JOUR

T1 - Signatures of adaptation in mitochondrial genomes of palearctic subterranean voles (Arvicolinae, rodentia)

AU - Bondareva, Olga

AU - Genelt-Yanovskiy, Evgeny

AU - Petrova, Tatyana

AU - Bodrov, Semen

AU - Smorkatcheva, Antonina

AU - Abramson, Natalia

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2021/12/2

Y1 - 2021/12/2

N2 - This study evaluates signatures of selection in the evolution of the mitochondrial DNA of voles, subfamily Arvicolinae, during the colonization of subterranean environments. The comparative sequence analysis of mitochondrial protein-coding genes of eight subterranean vole species (Prometheomys schaposchnikowi, three species of the genus Ellobius: Ellobius talpinus, Ellobius fuscocapillus and Ellobius lutescens, two species of the genus Terricola: Terricola subterraneus and Terricola daghestanicus, Lasiopodomys mandarinus, and Hyperacrius fertilis) and their closest aboveground relatives was applied using codon-substitution models. The highest number of selection signatures was detected in genes ATP8 and CYTB. The relaxation of selection was observed in most mitochondrial DNA protein-coding genes for subterranean species. The largest amount of relaxed genes is discovered in mole voles (genus Ellobius). The number of selection signatures was found to be independent of the evolutionary age of the lineage but fits the degree of specialization to the subterranean niche. The common trends of selective pressures were observed among the evolutionary ancient and highly specialized subterranean rodent families and phylogenetically young lineages of voles. It suggests that the signatures of adaptation in individual mitochondrial protein-coding genes associated with the colonization of the subterranean niche may appear within a rather short evolutionary timespan.

AB - This study evaluates signatures of selection in the evolution of the mitochondrial DNA of voles, subfamily Arvicolinae, during the colonization of subterranean environments. The comparative sequence analysis of mitochondrial protein-coding genes of eight subterranean vole species (Prometheomys schaposchnikowi, three species of the genus Ellobius: Ellobius talpinus, Ellobius fuscocapillus and Ellobius lutescens, two species of the genus Terricola: Terricola subterraneus and Terricola daghestanicus, Lasiopodomys mandarinus, and Hyperacrius fertilis) and their closest aboveground relatives was applied using codon-substitution models. The highest number of selection signatures was detected in genes ATP8 and CYTB. The relaxation of selection was observed in most mitochondrial DNA protein-coding genes for subterranean species. The largest amount of relaxed genes is discovered in mole voles (genus Ellobius). The number of selection signatures was found to be independent of the evolutionary age of the lineage but fits the degree of specialization to the subterranean niche. The common trends of selective pressures were observed among the evolutionary ancient and highly specialized subterranean rodent families and phylogenetically young lineages of voles. It suggests that the signatures of adaptation in individual mitochondrial protein-coding genes associated with the colonization of the subterranean niche may appear within a rather short evolutionary timespan.

KW - Adaptations

KW - Mitochondrial protein-coding genes

KW - Selective pressures

KW - Subterranean lifestyle

KW - Subterranean voles

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120772929&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/e7b4f523-e081-3ca1-81fa-1a36c19d054a/

U2 - 10.3390/genes12121945

DO - 10.3390/genes12121945

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85120772929

VL - 12

JO - Genes

JF - Genes

SN - 2073-4425

IS - 12

M1 - 1945

ER -