Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular Evolution
The pale grass blue butterfly <i>Zizeeria maha</i> has been used to evaluate the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. Here, we examined the DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene <i>cytochrome oxidase subunit I</i> (<i>COI</i>) of <i&g...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Mariko Toki Wataru Taira Ko Sakauchi Joji M. Otaki |
| author_facet | Mariko Toki Wataru Taira Ko Sakauchi Joji M. Otaki |
| author_sort | Mariko Toki |
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| description | The pale grass blue butterfly <i>Zizeeria maha</i> has been used to evaluate the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. Here, we examined the DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene <i>cytochrome oxidase subunit I</i> (<i>COI</i>) of <i>Z. maha</i> using the field samples collected in 2011–2014 and 2021. Among 641 individuals from 44 localities in Northeastern Japan, we detected a heteroplasmic nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution in one out of three 2012 individuals from Hirono, Fukushima Prefecture, where the biological impact of radioactive pollution was the highest among the localities surveyed in 2012, suggesting DNA damage via initial exposure to short-lived radionuclides. An additional 80 individuals from Hirono in 2021 did not show any substitution, suggesting the extinction of the Hirono mutant by 2021. We also detected another heteroplasmic and homoplasmic nonsynonymous substitution in four out of five 2014 individuals from Shibata, Niigata Prefecture, where radioactive pollution was low. These substitutions were not present in the GenBank records of <i>Z. maha</i> and its sister species <i>Z. karsandra</i>, indicating that intraspecific variation may exceed interspecific variation in <i>Z. maha</i>. These results highlight not only the possible impact of the initial exposure in Fukushima but also real-time molecular evolution of butterflies in the field. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ac5a95e57a5a44cf995e9879434fdbf72025-08-20T02:28:20ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-04-0117427510.3390/d17040275Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular EvolutionMariko Toki0Wataru Taira1Ko Sakauchi2Joji M. Otaki3The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, JapanThe BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, JapanThe BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, JapanThe BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, JapanThe pale grass blue butterfly <i>Zizeeria maha</i> has been used to evaluate the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. Here, we examined the DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene <i>cytochrome oxidase subunit I</i> (<i>COI</i>) of <i>Z. maha</i> using the field samples collected in 2011–2014 and 2021. Among 641 individuals from 44 localities in Northeastern Japan, we detected a heteroplasmic nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution in one out of three 2012 individuals from Hirono, Fukushima Prefecture, where the biological impact of radioactive pollution was the highest among the localities surveyed in 2012, suggesting DNA damage via initial exposure to short-lived radionuclides. An additional 80 individuals from Hirono in 2021 did not show any substitution, suggesting the extinction of the Hirono mutant by 2021. We also detected another heteroplasmic and homoplasmic nonsynonymous substitution in four out of five 2014 individuals from Shibata, Niigata Prefecture, where radioactive pollution was low. These substitutions were not present in the GenBank records of <i>Z. maha</i> and its sister species <i>Z. karsandra</i>, indicating that intraspecific variation may exceed interspecific variation in <i>Z. maha</i>. These results highlight not only the possible impact of the initial exposure in Fukushima but also real-time molecular evolution of butterflies in the field.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/4/275<i>COI</i>Fukushima nuclear accidentheteroplasmymitochondriamolecular evolutionradioactive pollution |
| spellingShingle | Mariko Toki Wataru Taira Ko Sakauchi Joji M. Otaki Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular Evolution Diversity <i>COI</i> Fukushima nuclear accident heteroplasmy mitochondria molecular evolution radioactive pollution |
| title | Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular Evolution |
| title_full | Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular Evolution |
| title_fullStr | Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular Evolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular Evolution |
| title_short | Mitochondrial Genetic Mutations in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: Possible DNA Damage via the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Real-Time Molecular Evolution |
| title_sort | mitochondrial genetic mutations in the pale grass blue butterfly possible dna damage via the fukushima nuclear accident and real time molecular evolution |
| topic | <i>COI</i> Fukushima nuclear accident heteroplasmy mitochondria molecular evolution radioactive pollution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/4/275 |
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