The Characterization of the Mitochondrial Genome of Fulgoraria rupestris and Phylogenetic Considerations within the Neogastropoda

Abstract

Fulgoraria rupestris is a predatory marine gastropod belonging to Neogastropoda and possessing considerable taxonomic significance. However, research on this species remains limited. We acquired the complete mitochondrial genome of F. rupestris through second-generation sequencing and conducted an analysis of its genome structural features. The mitochondrial genome of F. rupestris spans a total length of 16,223 bp and encompasses 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs). Notably, most tRNAs exhibit the typical cloverleaf structure, but there is an absence of the Dihydrouridine (DHU) arm in the trnS1 and trnS2 genes. The A + T content is 68.67%, indicating a pronounced AT bias. Additionally, we conducted a selection pressure analysis on the mitochondrial genomes of four species within Volutidae, revealing that all PCGs are subjected to purifying selection. In comparison to other species within Neogastropoda, F. rupestris shares an identical gene arrangement. Additionally, based on mitochondrial genome sequences of the 13 PCGs from 50 species within Neogastropoda, we constructed a phylogenetic tree. The phylogenetic tree indicates F. rupestris forms a clade with species within the family Volutidae (Cymbium olla, Neptuneopsis gilchristi, and Melo melo). This study serves as a valuable reference for future research on F. rupestris, offering insights for the upcoming phylogenetic and taxonomic classification within Neogastropoda. Furthermore, the findings provide valuable information for the development of genetic resources in this context.