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MBE Advance Access published online on April 2, 2003
Molecular Biology and Evolution, doi:10.1093/molbev/msg061
Molecular Biology and Evolution © Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution 2003; all rights reserved
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Accepted December 2, 2002
© 2003 Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution

Original Articles

DNA Sequence Variation in the Mitochondrial Control Region of Subterranean Mole Rats, Spalax ehrenbergi Superspecies, in Israel

Aurelio Reyes 1*, Eviatar Nevo 2, Cecilia Saccone 3

1 Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Sezione di Bioinformatica e Genomica Comparata, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bari, Italy
2 Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Israel
3 Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Bari, Italy

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: a.reyes{at}area.ba.cnr.it.


  Abstract

The complete mitochondrial control region was sequenced for 60 individuals representing different populations for each of the four species of the subterranean mole rat in Israel, Spalax ehrenbergi, superspecies: Spalax galili (2n = 52), S. golani (2n = 54), S. carmeli (2n = 58) and S. judaei (2n = 60). The control region of all species and populations is very similar both in length (979-983 bp) and base composition. As in agreement with previous surveys on mitochondrial control regions on mammals, the mole rat control region can be divided in three domains: a central domain and two flanking domains, namely ETAS (extended termination associated sequences) and CSB (conserved sequence blocks) domains. Along with the common conserved blocks found in these domains (ETAS1, ETAS2, CSB1, CSB2 and CSB3) we have also detected in all individuals an ETAS1-like and a CSB1-like element, both in the ETAS domain. The most conserved region was the central domain, followed by CSB and ETAS domain, showing important differences in the four species analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis supported the existence of two clades. One of them contained individuals belonging to Spalax galili (2n = 52) and S. golani (2n = 54), separated in two different branches depending on the species. The other clade contained individuals belonging S. carmeli (2n = 58) and S. judaei (2n = 60) mixed together, suggesting a more recent event of speciation. Within-species we have observed a southward trend of increasing variability. These results have been explained as a consequence of the adaptation of the species to ecological factors, such as aridity and temperature stresses.

Key Words: Spalax ehrenbergi, mitochondrial DNA, control region, speciation, adaptation, molecular evolution


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