The Complete Mitogenome of the Wood-Feeding Cockroach Cryptocercus meridianus (Blattodea: Cryptocercidae) and Its Phylogenetic Relationship among Cockroach Families

Abstract

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of <i>Cryptocercus meridianus</i> was sequenced. The circular mitochondrial genome is 15,322 bp in size and contains 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes, and one D-loop region. We compare the mitogenome of <i>C. meridianus</i> with that of <i>C. relictus</i> and <i>C. kyebangensis</i>. The base composition of the whole genome was 45.20%, 9.74%, 16.06%, and 29.00% for A, G, C, and T, respectively; it shows a high AT content (74.2%), similar to the mitogenomes of <i>C. relictus</i> and <i>C. kyebangensis</i>. The protein-coding genes are initiated with typical mitochondrial start codons except for <i>cox1</i> with TTG. The gene order of the <i>C. meridianus</i> mitogenome differs from the typical insect pattern for the translocation of <i>tRNA-Ser^AGN</i>, while the mitogenomes of the other two <i>Cryptocercus</i> species, <i>C. relictus</i> and <i>C. kyebangensis</i>, are consistent with the typical insect pattern. There are two very long non-coding intergenic regions lying on both sides of the rearranged gene <i>tRNA-Ser^AGN</i>. The phylogenetic relationships were constructed based on the nucleotide sequence of 13 protein-coding genes and two ribosomal RNA genes. The mitogenome of <i>C. meridianus</i> is the first representative of the order Blattodea that demonstrates rearrangement, and it will contribute to the further study of the phylogeny and evolution of the genus <i>Cryptocercus</i> and related taxa.