Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and Phylogeny

The taxonomy of the genus <i>Metopograpsus</i> is still a matter of debate because its species have limited morphological differences. Mitochondrial genomes, which are highly informative and easily accessible genetic markers, have been widely used to study molecular evolution and clarify...

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Main Authors: Dan-Dan Bian, Sheng Tang, Song-Nan Wang, Qiu-Ning Liu, Bo-Ping Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1162
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author Dan-Dan Bian
Sheng Tang
Song-Nan Wang
Qiu-Ning Liu
Bo-Ping Tang
author_facet Dan-Dan Bian
Sheng Tang
Song-Nan Wang
Qiu-Ning Liu
Bo-Ping Tang
author_sort Dan-Dan Bian
collection DOAJ
description The taxonomy of the genus <i>Metopograpsus</i> is still a matter of debate because its species have limited morphological differences. Mitochondrial genomes, which are highly informative and easily accessible genetic markers, have been widely used to study molecular evolution and clarify relationships among species. This study aims to investigate the mitochondrial genome of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i>, a species with unique ecological and evolutionary significance. By analyzing the mitochondrial genome, we seek to address taxonomic uncertainties and provide insights into the evolutionary history of this species. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the mitochondrial genome of <i>M. quadridentatus</i> to investigate its gene rearrangement patterns and its place within Brachyura. We compared the gene order of <i>M. quadridentatus</i> with that of 40 other Brachyuran species and created phylogenetic trees based on the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). We found that the mitochondrial gene arrangement of <i>M. quadridentatus</i> is mostly unchanged, similar to the original crustacean pattern, except for the movement of the <i>trnH</i> gene. Notably, the gene orders of several families, such as Eriphiidae, Grapsidae, Camptandriidae, Dotillidae, Plagusiidae, Ocypodidae, and Gecarcinidae, are the same. Phylogenetic analyses consistently placed <i>M. quadridentatus</i> within the genus <i>Metopograpsus</i> and the family Grapsidae, confirming its current taxonomic classification. These results offer important insights into evolutionary relationships and gene order conservation within Brachyura. Our study highlights the significance of mitochondrial genomes in resolving taxonomic uncertainties within the genus <i>Metopograpsus</i>.
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spelling doaj-art-5264d3b20c1142c2aa8965fd35eb635e2025-08-20T03:14:14ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01158116210.3390/ani15081162Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and PhylogenyDan-Dan Bian0Sheng Tang1Song-Nan Wang2Qiu-Ning Liu3Bo-Ping Tang4Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-Agriculture, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, School of Wetlands, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-Agriculture, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, School of Wetlands, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-Agriculture, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, School of Wetlands, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-Agriculture, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, School of Wetlands, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-Agriculture, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, School of Wetlands, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, ChinaThe taxonomy of the genus <i>Metopograpsus</i> is still a matter of debate because its species have limited morphological differences. Mitochondrial genomes, which are highly informative and easily accessible genetic markers, have been widely used to study molecular evolution and clarify relationships among species. This study aims to investigate the mitochondrial genome of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i>, a species with unique ecological and evolutionary significance. By analyzing the mitochondrial genome, we seek to address taxonomic uncertainties and provide insights into the evolutionary history of this species. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the mitochondrial genome of <i>M. quadridentatus</i> to investigate its gene rearrangement patterns and its place within Brachyura. We compared the gene order of <i>M. quadridentatus</i> with that of 40 other Brachyuran species and created phylogenetic trees based on the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). We found that the mitochondrial gene arrangement of <i>M. quadridentatus</i> is mostly unchanged, similar to the original crustacean pattern, except for the movement of the <i>trnH</i> gene. Notably, the gene orders of several families, such as Eriphiidae, Grapsidae, Camptandriidae, Dotillidae, Plagusiidae, Ocypodidae, and Gecarcinidae, are the same. Phylogenetic analyses consistently placed <i>M. quadridentatus</i> within the genus <i>Metopograpsus</i> and the family Grapsidae, confirming its current taxonomic classification. These results offer important insights into evolutionary relationships and gene order conservation within Brachyura. Our study highlights the significance of mitochondrial genomes in resolving taxonomic uncertainties within the genus <i>Metopograpsus</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1162mitochondrial genome<i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i>gene rearrangementphylogenetic relationships
spellingShingle Dan-Dan Bian
Sheng Tang
Song-Nan Wang
Qiu-Ning Liu
Bo-Ping Tang
Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and Phylogeny
Animals
mitochondrial genome
<i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i>
gene rearrangement
phylogenetic relationships
title Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and Phylogeny
title_full Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and Phylogeny
title_fullStr Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and Phylogeny
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and Phylogeny
title_short Comparative Analysis of <i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) Mitochondrial Genome Reveals Gene Rearrangement and Phylogeny
title_sort comparative analysis of i metopograpsus quadridentatus i crustacea decapoda grapsidae mitochondrial genome reveals gene rearrangement and phylogeny
topic mitochondrial genome
<i>Metopograpsus quadridentatus</i>
gene rearrangement
phylogenetic relationships
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1162
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