• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2006

Copper,zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) plays a key role to the first antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress in diverse aerobic organisms. Due to the housekeeping action of Cu,Zn-SOD, it was reported that the structure and function have been conserved during evolution. In this study Cu,Zn-SOD from cloudy catshark Scyliorhinus torazame was subjected to phylogenetic analyses to know its evolutionary relationship in the vertebrate lineage. Molecular phylogenetic trees inferred by NJ, MP, ML and/or Bayesian analyses showed two shark species, Prionace glauca and S. torazame grouped together with high statistical supports. In general, they placed at the separated position from bony vertebrates. Thereafter, bony vertebrates composed of teleosts and birds/mammals (amniotes) formed a monophyletic group. Each teleost and amniote clade was also supported by relatively high statistical values. These phylogenetic relationships are well congruent with the phylogenetic hypothesis of the ancestral position of cartilaginous fishes to bony vertebrates.