China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (4): 1660-1670.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.04.019

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

NUMTs Mapping of Rabbit Genome Based on the Latest Reference Sequence UM_NZW_1.0

ZHOU Xin1,2, YANG Cheng1, ZHU Guiming1, HE Qianrong1, LI Yan3, FAN Xinzhong1, NING Chao1, WANG Dan1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271017, China;
    2. College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China;
    3. Human Resources Development Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/China Association of Agricultural Science Societies, Beijing 100125, China
  • Received:2024-12-26 Published:2025-03-29

Abstract: 【Objective】 Nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments (NUMTs) are formed by the insertion and integration of mitochondrial DNA into the nuclear genome.This study was aimed to map NUMTs in rabbit genome based on the latest reference genome sequence UM_NZW_1.0,analyze the distribution characteristics and genomic environment preferences,and predict the biological function of NUMTs,so as to decipher the NUMTs information in rabbit genome.【Method】 The nuclear DNA sequence of the latest rabbit reference genome UM_NZW_1.0 was aligned with the mitochondrial genome to map the NUMTs,and the length and chromosomal distribution of NUMTs were analyzed.NUMTs fragments were integrated into NUMTs regions to study insertion events.GC content and repeat sequence ratio of NUMTs in nuclear genome were investigated to understand their insertion preferences in genomic context.The distribution of homologous mitochondrial sequences of NUMTs in mitochondrial genome was explored.Gene annotation was performed to predict the potential biological function of NUMTs.【Result】 Totally of 237 NUMTs sequences were detected in rabbit genome,there were no NUMTs on chromosomes 3,5,6,8 and 10,with a total length of 311 549 bp,accounting for 0.015512% of the total reference genome size.These NUMTs might be formed by 87 NUMTs insertion events.NUMTs were more likely to form in regions with lower GC content and more repetitive sequences in rabbit genome,indicating that the formation of NUMTs in rabbit genome was not random.The entire mitochondrial genome sequence had formed NUMTs,with genes such as COX1,COX2, ND2,tRNA-C,tRNA-A,tRNA-W and tRNA-V covering more than 20 times.By annotating the genes covered by NUMTs and their upstream and downstream 1 000 bp regions,it was speculated that NUMTs might be related to function such as reproduction and tnervous system.【Conclusion】 Segments of the mitochondrial genome had been inserted into chromosome to form NUMTs throughout the evolution process of rabbits,NUMTs were not uniformly distributed across all chromosomes.NUMTs tended to be found in genomic regions characterized by lower GC content and a higher density of repetitive sequences.NUMTs might play roles in crucial biological processes,such as reproduction and nervous system,which offered valuable genetic insights for the molecular breeding of rabbits.

Key words: nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments (NUMTs); rabbits; nuclear genome

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