Description of complete mitochondrial genome of the black-veined white, Aporia crataegi (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), and comparison to papilionoid species

The black-veined white, Aporia crataegi (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) is nearly extinct in South Korea, although substantial numbers of dried specimens are available. One of the common practices used to rescue such endangered species is to launch a re-introduction program after a proper amount of genetic information is analyzed from donor and donee populations. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of A. crataegi to accumulate genetic information for subsequent population studies and to further understand the mitogenome evolution in true butterflies, Papilionoidea. The 15,140-bp long A. crataegi mitogenome has typical sets of 37 genes and is the smallest among the true butterfly species, with overall slightly smaller size genes and regions throughout the genome. The A/T content of the genome (81.3%) is the highest in Pieridae, where A. crataegi belongs, but lower than that of the lycaenid species (81.7%–82.7%). Unlike the diversified or modified usage of an anticodon for tRNASer(AGN), the species of Pieridae including A. crataegi all contain GCT that has been hypothesized as being ancestral for Lepidoptera. A total of 111 bp of non-coding sequences are interspersed in 13 regions, ranging in size from 1–49 bp. Among these sequences, relatively longer ones (≥ 16 bp) all have relatively higher sequence identity to other regions of the genome, suggesting partial duplication of the sequences during A. crataegi evolution.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We present complete mitogenome sequences of the black-veined white, Aporia crataegi. ► The A. crataegi mitogenome was 15,140-bp. ► The genome was sequenced using lepidopteran specific primers. ► Pieridae including A. crataegi uses anticodon GCT for tRNASer(AGN) unanimously. ► It also contained one tRNA-like sequence in the A + T-rich region, as typically found in Lepidoptera including Papilionoidea.