Assembly of the mitochondrial genome of the hydrothermal vent crab Segonzacia mesatlantica and detection of potential nuclear pseudogenes

Abstract

We assembled the mitogenome of the Bythograeid crab Segonzacia mesatlantica, using long-range amplification of the mitochondrial genome. The mitogenome is 15,521 base pair long (33.8% A, 21.7% C, 10.5% G, 34% T) with 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and a 624 bp AT-rich region. The gene arrangement is similar to other Brachyuran species. A whole genome shotgun sequencing approach revealed the presence of mitochondrial pseudogenes in the nuclear genome. This fifth mitogenome for a species of Bythograeidae should help resolve the puzzling question of the evolutionary origin of a family limited to deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Keywords

• mitochondrial genome
• segonzacia mesatlantica
• bythograeidae
• pseudogenes
• next-generation sequencing
• mid-atlantic ridge vents