Complete mitochondrial genome of Echinophylliaaspera (Scleractinia, Lobophylliidae): Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic positioning

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Homophyllia bowerbanki (Scleractinia, Lobophylliidae): The First Sequence for the Genus Homophyllia

Reef-building coral species of the order Scleractinia play an important role in shallow tropical seas by providing an environmental base for the ecosystem. The molecular data of complete mitochondrial genome have become an important source for evaluating phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of Scleractinia. Here, the complete mitogenome of Homophyllia bowerbanki (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1857), collected from Nansha Islands of the South China Sea, was sequenced for the first time through a next-generation sequencing method. H. bowerbanki is the first species of its genus for which the mitogenome was sequenced. This mitogenome was 18,154 bp in size and included two transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). It showed a similar gene structure and gene order to the other typical scleractinians. All 17 genes were encoded on the H strand and the total GC content was 33.86% in mitogenome. Phylogenetic analysis (maximum likelihood tree method) showed that H. bowerbanki belonged to the “Robust” clade and clustered together with other two species in the family Lobophylliidae based on 13 PCGs. The mitogenome can provide significant molecular information to clarify the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships between stony corals and to facilitate their taxonomic classification; it can also support coral species monitoring and conservation efforts.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Turbinaria bifrons (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae)

In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of the stony coral, Turbinaria bifrons Brüggemann, 1877, has been decoded for the first time by next-generation sequencing (NGS) and genome assembly. The assembled mitogenome was 18,880 bp in length, contained 13 protein coding genes, 2 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs. The complete mitogenome of T. bifrons showing 97.09% identities to Tubastraea tagusensis. The complete mitogenome provides essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis for coral phylogeny.

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Psammocora profundacella (Scleractinia, Psammocoridae): mitogenome characterisation and phylogenetic implications

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence data have played a significant role in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of scleractinian corals. In this study, the complete mitogenome of Psammocora profundacella Gardiner, 1898, collected from Guangdong Province, China, was sequenced by next-generation sequencing for the first time. Psammocora profundacella is the first species for which a mitogenome has been sequenced in the family Psammocoridae. The length of its assembled mitogenome sequence was 16,274 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, two tRNAs and two rRNAs. Its gene content and gene order were consistent with the other Scleractinia species. All genes were encoded on the H strand and the GC content of the mitochondrial genome was 30.49%. Gene content and order were consistent with the other Scleractinia species. Based on 13 protein-coding genes, Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that P. profundacella belongs to the "Robust" clade. Mitochondrial genome data provide important molecular information for understanding the phylogeny of stony corals. More variable markers and additional species should be sequenced to confirm the evolutionary relationships of Scleractinia in the future.