Complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudoglomeris magnifica (Shelford, 1907) (Insecta: Dictyoptera: Blaberidae)

Pseudoglomeris magnifica (Shelford, 1907) is bred as a pet because of its beautiful appearance. Its complete mitochondrial genome (GenBank accession number MW630139), obtained from the Manwan Town population, was characterized as the first complete mitogenome of the genus Pseudoglomeris. The mitogenome consists of a circular DNA molecule of 16,627 bp with 76.23% AT content. It comprises 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one control region. The PCGs have the traditional ATN (Met) start codon, except cox1 and nad1 (which have TTG (Met) as the start codon), and are terminated by the traditional TAN stop codon

Complete mitochondrial genome of Morphostenophanes yunnanus (Zhou, 2020) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and phylogenetic analysis

Morphostenophanes yunnanus (Zhou, ) is widely distributed from central to eastern Yunnan with distinct geographical variations in morphology. Beetles were collected in Manwan Town, and a mitochondrial genome sequence (GenBank accession number MZ298928) of this species was sequenced using the MGI-SEQ 2000 platform, assembled using NOVOPlasty v4.3.1, and characterized. The mitogenome was a circular DNA molecule of 15,690 bp with 64.710% AT content, which comprised 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one control region. The protein-coding genes showed the typical ATN (Met) and TTG (Met) start codons, except nad1 and cox1 (TTG as start codon), and were terminated by typical TAN stop codons. The maximum-likelihood polygenetic tree was generated using protein sequences of thirteen protein-coding regions of seventeen mitogenomes with mtREV + G + F + I with 1000 replicates under the Bayesian information criterion using MEGA 11, which showed that M. yunnanus was the most closely related to M. sinicus. This study provides essential genetic and molecular data for phylogenetic analyses of the genus Morphostenophanes

Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Mastax latefasciata Liebke 1931 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The genus Mastax Fischer von Waldheim 1827 belongs to the family Carabidae. Specimens of adult Mastax latefasciata Liebke, were collected from Yājì Hill, Huáihuà City, Húnán Province, China. The complete mitochondrial genome (GenBank accession number ON674050.1) of M. latefasciata was sequenced, annotated, and characterized. The results showed that it was a circular DNA molecule of 16,735 bp with 81.07% AT content and comprised 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region. The PCGs were initiated using typical ATN (Met) and TTG (Met) start codons and terminated using typical TAN stop codons. The phylogenetic position of Mastax within the Carabidae was first evaluated using complete mitogenomes, and the results showed that it was close to Cicindela anchoralis and Manticora tibialis

The Deficiency of SCARB2/LIMP-2 Impairs Metabolism via Disrupted mTORC1-Dependent Mitochondrial OXPHOS

Deficiency in scavenger receptor class B, member 2 (SCARB2) is related to both Gaucher disease (GD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which are both neurodegenerative-related diseases without cure. Although both diseases lead to weight loss, which affects the quality of life and the progress of diseases, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we found that Scarb2−/− mice showed significantly reduced lipid storage in white fat tissues (WAT) compared to WT mice on a regular chow diet. However, the phenotype is independent of heat production, activity, food intake or energy absorption. Furthermore, adipocyte differentiation and cholesterol homeostasis were unaffected. We found that the impaired lipid accumulation of Adiponectin-cre; Scarb2fl/fl mice was due to the imbalance between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Mechanistically, the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)/ eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) pathway was down-regulated in Scarb2 deficient adipocytes, leading to impaired mitochondrial respiration and enhanced glycolysis. Altogether, we reveal the role of SCARB2 in metabolism regulation besides the nervous system, which provides a theoretical basis for weight loss treatment of patients with neurodegenerative diseases