Big jaw, small genome: first description of the mitochondrial genome of Odontomachus (Formicidae, Ponerinae): evolutionary implications for Ponerinae ants.

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA is a valuable tool for population genetics and evolutionary studies in a wide range of organisms. With advancements in sequencing techniques, it's now possible to gain deeper insights into this molecule. By understanding how many genes there are, how they're organized within the molecule, identifying the presence of spacers, and analyzing the composition of the D-Loop, we can better grasp the rearrangements that play a crucial role in the evolutionary dynamics of mitochondrial DNA. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses benefit significantly from having access to a larger pool of mtDNA genes. This wealth of genetic information allows for the establishment of evolutionary relationships with greater accuracy than ever before, providing a more robust framework than analyses based on a limited number of genes. Studies on mitogenomes belonging to the family Formicidae have proven promising, enabling the identification of gene rearrangements and enhancing our understanding of the internal relationships within the group. Despite this, the number of mitogenomes available for the subfamily Ponerinae is still limited, and here we present for the first time the complete mitogenome of Odontomachus. Our data reveal a gene duplication event in Formicidae, the first involving trnV, and new gene arrangements involving the trnM-trnI-trnQ and trnW-trnC-trnY clusters, suggesting a possible synapomorphy for the genus. Our phylogenetic analysis using the PCGs available for Formicidae supports the monophyly of the subfamily Ponerinae and sheds light on the relationship between Odontomachus and Pachycondyla.