PacBio-Based Mitochondrial Genome Assembly of Leucaena trichandra (Leguminosae) and an Intrageneric Assessment of Mitochondrial RNA Editing

Genome Biol Evol. 2018 Sep 1;10(9):2501-2517. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evy179.

Abstract

Reconstructions of vascular plant mitochondrial genomes (mt-genomes) are notoriously complicated by rampant recombination that has resulted in comparatively few plant mt-genomes being available. The dearth of plant mitochondrial resources has limited our understanding of mt-genome structural diversity, complex patterns of RNA editing, and the origins of novel mt-genome elements. Here, we use an efficient long read (PacBio) iterative assembly pipeline to generate mt-genome assemblies for Leucaena trichandra (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae: mimosoid clade), providing the first assessment of non-papilionoid legume mt-genome content and structure to date. The efficiency of the assembly approach facilitated the exploration of alternative structures that are common place among plant mitochondrial genomes. A compact version (729 kbp) of the recovered assemblies was used to investigate sources of mt-genome size variation among legumes and mt-genome sequence similarity to the legume associated root holoparasite Lophophytum. The genome and an associated suite of transcriptome data from select species of Leucaena permitted an in-depth exploration of RNA editing in a diverse clade of closely related species that includes hybrid lineages. RNA editing in the allotetraploid, Leucaena leucocephala, is consistent with co-option of nearly equal maternal and paternal C-to-U edit components, generating novel combinations of RNA edited sites. A preliminary investigation of L. leucocephala C-to-U edit frequencies identified the potential for a hybrid to generate unique pools of alleles from parental variation through edit frequencies shared with one parental lineage, those intermediate between parents, and transgressive patterns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Fabaceae / genetics*
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Genome, Mitochondrial*
  • RNA Editing*
  • RNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
  • RNA, Plant / genetics*
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences
  • Tetraploidy

Substances

  • RNA, Mitochondrial
  • RNA, Plant