The complete mitochondrial genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis of Luciola lateralis, one of the most famous firefly in Japan (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

The complete mitochondrial genome of the firefly Curtos fulvocapitalis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

We report the complete mitochondrial genome of the firefly Curtos fulvocapitalis Jeng et Yang 1998. The circular genome is 16,398 bp and has a base composition of A (42.21%), C (11.22%), G (7.73%), and T (38.85%). Our sequence is similar to those of other metazoans, which contain 13 protein-coding genes. All 13 protein-coding genes were initiated by the ATN (ATT, ATA, and ATG) codon. Nine protein-coding genes stopped with TAA or TAG codons, and the other four genes had an incomplete termination codon, a single T. We sequenced the mitochondrial genome of fireflies to analyze phylogenetic relationships and determine the evolution of their flashing signals.

Characterization of the First Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Cyphonocerinae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) with Implications for Phylogeny and Evolution of Fireflies

Complete mitochondrial genomes are valuable resources for phylogenetics in insects. The Cyphonoceridae represents an important lineage of fireflies. However, no complete mitogenome is available until now. Here, the first complete mitochondrial genome from this subfamily was reported, with Cyphonocerus sanguineus klapperichi as a representative. The mitogenome of C. sanguineus klapperichi was conserved in the structure and comparable to that of others in size and A+T content. Nucleotide composition was A+T-biased, and all genes exhibited a positive AT-skew and negative GC-skew. Two types of tandem repeat sequence units were present in the control region (136 bp × 2; 171 bp × 2 + 9 bp). For reconstruction of Lampyridae's phylogeny, three different datasets were analyzed by both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. As a result, the same topology was produced by both ML analysis of 13 protein-coding genes and 2rRNA and BI analysis of 37 genes. The results indicated that Lampyridae, Lampyrinae, Luciolinae (excluding Emeia) were monophyletic, but Ototretinae was paraphyletic, of which Stenocladius was recovered as the sister taxon to all others, while Drilaster was more closely related to Cyphonocerinae; Phturinae + Emeia were included in a monophyletic clade, which comprised sister groups with Lampyridae. Vesta was deeply rooted in the Luciolinae.

Drug Discovery Insights from Medicinal Beetles in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was the primary source of medical treatment for the people inhabiting East Asia for thousands of years. These ancient practices have incorporated a wide variety of materia medica including plants, animals and minerals. As modern sciences, including natural products chemistry, emerged, there became increasing efforts to explore the chemistry of this materia medica to find molecules responsible for their traditional use. Insects, including beetles have played an important role in TCM. In our survey of texts and review articles on TCM materia medica, we found 48 species of beetles from 34 genera in 14 different families that are used in TCM. This review covers the chemistry known from the beetles used in TCM, or in cases where a species used in these practices has not been chemically studied, we discuss the chemistry of closely related beetles. We also found several documented uses of beetles in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), and included them where appropriate. There are 129 chemical constituents of beetles discussed.

The genetic variations in the mitochondrial genomes of three Luciolinae fireflies

This paper studied the complete mitochondrial genomes of three fireflies, Pygoluciola qingyu, Emeia pseudosauteri and Abscondita terminalis. We discussed the variations in the mitochondrial genomes of samples of each firefly from different populations. The mitochondrial genomes of Abs. terminalis and P. qingyu are very stable among their different populations. The mitochondrial genome of E. pseudosauteri shows some variations among the different populations, especially in the COI sequence.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean endemic firefly, Luciola unmunsana (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

In this study, we announce the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the Korean endemic firefly, Luciola unmunsana Doi, 1931. The full-length circular genome was 15,858 bp, with 77.94% A/T content. It contained the typical set of 37 metazoan genes: 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, as well as an A + T-rich region. The gene arrangement of the species is identical to that of the ancestral arrangement found in the majority of insects. The maximum-likelihood tree, built using all PCGs and two rRNAs via randomized accelerated maximum likelihood (RAxML) showed that L. unmunsana was grouped as a sister to L. curtithorax with the highest nodal support. However, another Luciola species clustered with the Aquatica species such that the genus Luciola was a non-monophyletic group. Therefore, more sampling is required to clarify the phylogeny of Luciola.

Firefly genomes illuminate parallel origins of bioluminescence in beetles

Fireflies and their luminous courtships have inspired centuries of scientific study. Today firefly luciferase is widely used in biotechnology, but the evolutionary origin of bioluminescence within beetles remains unclear. To shed light on this long-standing question, we sequenced the genomes of two firefly species that diverged over 100 million-years-ago: the North American Photinus pyralis and Japanese Aquatica lateralis. To compare bioluminescent origins, we also sequenced the genome of a related click beetle, the Caribbean Ignelater luminosus, with bioluminescent biochemistry near-identical to fireflies, but anatomically unique light organs, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis of parallel gains of bioluminescence. Our analyses support independent gains of bioluminescence in fireflies and click beetles, and provide new insights into the genes, chemical defenses, and symbionts that evolved alongside their luminous lifestyle.