Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Saussurea inversa (Asteraceae)

Abstract

Abstract Saussurea inversa is a perennial herb used in traditional Chinese medicine and is effective against rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial(mt) genome of S. inversa (GenBank accession number: ON584565.1). The circular mt genome of S. inversa was 335,372 bp in length, containing 62 genes, including 33 mRNAs, 22 tRNAs, six rRNAs, and one pseudo-gene, with 1,626 open reading frames. The GC content was 45.14%. Predictive analysis of substantial RNA-editing of its presence found that the most abundant RNA editing is ccmFn, with 36. Gene migration was observed to occur between the mt and chloroplast(cp) genomes of S. inversa via the detection of homologous gene fragments. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. inversa was clustered with Arctium tomentosum (Asteraceae). Our findings provide extensive information regarding the mt genome of S. inversa and help lay the foundation for future studies on the genetic variations, phylogeny, and breeding of S. inversa via an analysis of the mt genome.