Characterization and novel gene rearrangements in the mitochondrial genome of Chelonus munakatae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Insights into evolutionary dynamics and genomic variability

Abstract

Chelonus munakatae Matsumura (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an important parasitoid of several lepidopteran species. The mitochondrial genome of this species is a crucial source for molecular identification and genetic studies. Here, we used next-generation sequencing to obtain the C. munakatae mitochondrial genome, which was found to be 14,868 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs and two rRNAs. The nucleotide composition exhibits a significant bias towards A + T content, with a value of 86.8 %. A large number of PCG and tRNA gene rearrangement events were detected (I-V-M-C-W-Q and A-N-S1-E-R-F), which represent a novel rearrangement type in Hymenoptera. Furthermore, synteny analysis based on the whole mitochondrial genomes showed that a significant rearrangement of homologous blocks had occurred within this Braconidae species. This study not only delineates the mitochondrial characteristics of C. munakatae but also significantly contributes to the repository of mitochondrial genetic information for the Braconidae family. Moreover, it highlights the occurrence of gene rearrangement within Hymenoptera species, offering valuable insights into the evolutionary dynamics and genomic variability of these insects.