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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background: The Polyplacophora class, which includes all chitons, is distinguished by its unique eight-piece interlocking armor, showcasing a vast diversity in marine environments. However, the detailed evolutionary relationships within the Chitonidae family remain largely unknown. The mitochondrial genome is essential for understanding these relationships, but there has been a significant lack of such genomic information, especially for the Liolophura genus. Methods: We generated the first mitogenome of Liolophura japonica by assembling Illumina reads with GetOrganelle, polishing with Pilon, annotating genes with MitoZ and MITOS2, and inferring phylogeny from 13 concatenated protein-coding genes (PCGs) using MAFFT and IQ-TREE. Results: The mitogenome is 15,209 base pairs long and includes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs. The mitogenome exhibited a slight AT bias common in Chitonidae and showcased structural uniqueness with no control region found. Notably, all protein-coding genes demonstrated evidence of purifying selection, with Ka/Ks ratios below 1, highlighting evolutionary conservation. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a close relationship between L. japonica, Acanthopleura loochooana Broderip & Sowerby 1829, and Acanthopleura vaillantii Rochebrune, 1882, potentially warranting future taxonomic re-evaluation. This research emphasizes the crucial role of mitochondrial genomes in mollusk phylogeny and sets the stage for advanced genetic studies within this group. Conclusions: The significance of this study lies in its contribution to understanding the mitochondrial genome of L. japonica, a key species within the Polyplacophora class. By analyzing its mitogenome, we aim to enhance our understanding of evolutionary processes in chitons and other mollusks.

Details

Title
Deciphering the First Mitochondrial Genome of the Liolophura Pilsbry, 1893 Genus: An Extensive Phylogenetic Study Within the Chitonidae Family
Author
Zhou, Qianqian 1 ; Liu, Zhiyong 2 ; Dong Weifeng 2 ; Xing Bingpeng 3 ; Luo Site 4 ; Peng, Xiang 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China 
 Xiamen Ocean Center Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361008, China 
 Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA 
 School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China 
First page
606
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20734425
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3211981189
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.