The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the pathogenic yeast Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata

We report here the complete sequence of the mitochondrial (mt) genome of the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata. This 20 kb mt genome is the smallest among sequenced hemiascomycetous yeasts. Despite its compaction, the mt genome contains the genes encoding the apocytochrome b (COB), three subunits of ATP synthetase (ATP6, 8 and 9), three subunits of cytochrome oxidase (COX1, 2 and 3), the ribosomal protein VAR1, 23 tRNAs, small and large ribosomal RNAs and the RNA subunit of RNase P. Three group I introns each with an intronic open reading frame are present in the COX1 gene. This sequence is available under accession number AJ511533.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the yeast Pichia sorbitophila

Here, we report the complete nucleotide sequence of the 39 107-bp mitochondrial genome of the yeast Pichia sorbitophila . This genome is closely related to those of Candida parapsilosis and Debaryomyces hansenii , as judged from sequence similarities and synteny conservation. It encodes three subunits of cytochrome oxidase ( COX1, COX2 and COX3 ), three subunits of ATP synthase ( ATP6, ATP8 and ATP9 ), the seven subunits of NADH dehydrogenase ( NAD1-6 and NAD4L ), the apocytochrome b ( COB ), the large and small rRNAs and a complete set of tRNAs. Although the mitochondrial genome of P. sorbitophila contains the same core of mitochondrial genes observed in the ascomycetous yeasts, those coding for the RNAse P and the ribosomal protein VAR1p are missing. Moreover, the mtDNA of P. sorbitophila contains several introns in its genes and has the particularity of possessing an intron, which is not linked to any upstream exon.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of yarrowia lipolytica

We here report the complete nucleotide sequence of the 47.9 kb mitochondrial (mt) genome from the obligate aerobic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. It encodes, all on the same strand, seven subunits of NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ND1-6, ND4L), apocytochrome b (COB), three subunits of cytochrome oxidase (COX1, 2, 3), three subunits of ATP synthetase (ATP6, 8 and 9), small and large ribosomal RNAs and an incomplete set of tRNAs. The Y. lipolytica mt genome is very similar to the Hansenula wingei mt genome, as judged from blocks of conserved gene order and from sequence homology. The extra DNA in the Y. lipolytica mt genome consists of 17 group 1 introns and stretches of A+Trich sequence, interspersed with potentially transposable GC clusters. The usual mould mt genetic code is used. Interestingly, there is no tRNA able to read CGN (arginine) codons. CGN codons could not be found in exonic open reading frames, whereas they do occur in intronic open reading frames. However, several of the intronic open reading frames have accumulated mutations and must be regarded as pseudogenes. We propose that this may have been triggered by the presence of untranslatable CGN codons. This sequence is available under EMBL Accession No. AJ307410.     

The mitochondrial genome of the thermal dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei is more closely related to those of molds than yeasts

We report the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Penicillium marneffei, the first complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of a thermal dimorphic fungus. This 35 kb mitochondrial genome contains the genes encoding ATP synthase subunits 6, 8, and 9 (atp6, atp8, and atp9), cytochrome oxidase subunits I, II, and III (cox1, cox2, and cox3), apocytochrome b (cob), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ubiquinone oxireductase subunits (nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad4L, nad5, and nad6), ribosomal protein of the small ribosomal subunit (rps), 28 tRNAs, and small and large ribosomal RNAs. Analysis of gene contents, gene orders, and gene sequences revealed that the mitochondrial genome of P. marneffei is more closely related to those of molds than yeasts.     

Structure and organization of the mitochondrial genome of the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae deduced from the complete nucleotide sequence.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of a very primitive unicellular red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae , has been determined. The mitochondrial genome of C.merolae contains 34 genes for proteins including unidentified open reading frames (ORFs) (three subunits of cytochrome c oxidase, apocytochrome b protein, three subunits of F1F0-ATPase, seven subunits of NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase, three subunits of succinate dehydrogenase, four proteins implicated in c-type cytochrome biogenesis, 11 ribosomal subunits and two unidentified open reading frames), three genes for rRNAs and 25 genes for tRNAs. The G+C content of this mitochondrial genome is 27.2%. The genes are encoded on both strands. The genome size is comparatively small for a plant mitochondrial genome (32 211 bp). The mitochondrial genome resembles those of plants in its gene content because it contains several ribosomal protein genes and ORFs shared by other plant mitochondrial genomes. In contrast, it resembles those of animals in the genome organization, because it has very short intergenic regions and no introns. The gene set in this mitochondrial genome is a subset of that of Reclinomonas americana , an amoeboid protozoan. The results suggest that plant mitochondria originate from the same ancestor as other mitochondria and that most genes were lost from the mitochondrial genome at a fairly early stage of the evolution of the plants.     

Complete DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the sea-slug, Aplysia californica: conservation of the gene order in Euthyneura

We have sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of the sea slug, Aplysia californica, an important model organism in experimental biology and a representative of Anaspidea (Opisthobranchia, Gastropoda). The mitochondrial genome of Aplysia is in the small end of the observed sizes of animal mitochondrial genomes (14,117 bp, NCBI Accession No. NC_005827). The Aplysia genome, like most other mitochondrial genomes, encodes genes for 2 ribosomal subunit RNAs (small and large rRNAs), 22 tRNAs, and 13 protein subunits (cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1-3, cytochrome b apoenzyme, ATP synthase subunits 6 and 8, and NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1-6 and 4L). The gene order is virtually identical between opisthobranchs and pulmonates, with the majority of differences arising from tRNA translocations. In contrast, the gene order from representatives of basal gastropods and other molluscan classes is significantly different from opisthobranchs and pulmonates. The Aplysia genome was compared to all other published molluscan mitochondrial genomes and phylogenetic analyses were carried out using a concatenated protein alignment. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood based analyses of the well aligned regions of the protein sequences support both monophyly of Euthyneura (a group including both the pulmonates and opisthobranchs) and Opisthobranchia (as a more derived group). The Aplysia mitochondrial genome sequenced here will serve as an important platform in both comparative and neurobiological studies using this model organism.     

Cytonuclear coadaptation in Drosophila: disruption of cytochrome c oxidase activity in backcross genotypes

Abstract The cytochrome c oxidase enzyme (COX) is comprised of 10 nuclear-encoded subunits and three mito-chondrial-encoded subunits in close physical association in the inner mitochondrial membrane. COX passes electrons from cytochrome c to molecular oxygen and pumps protons into the inner mitochondrial space for ATP production. Selection on nuclear-mitochondrial interactions within species should lead to coadaptation of the proteins comprising this important enzyme. Under this model, there should be relatively little disruption of COX activity when mitochondrial genomes are crossed among strains within species. A more pronounced disruption of activity is expected when the mitochondrial genome is expressed in the nuclear background of a different species. We test these hypotheses in Drosophila using hybridization and backcrossing among lines of D. simulans and D. mauritiana. Disrupted cytonuclear genotypes were constructed using backcrosses between two lines of D. simulans (siI and si II ) that introduced each divergent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into each nuclear background due to maternal inheritance of mtDNA. Similar crosses were used to introduce eachD. simulans mtDNA into the D. mauritiana maI nuclear background. Reconstituted cytonuclear control genotypes were constructed by backcrossing the initial F1 females to males of the maternal genotype. COX enzyme activities were compared among these disrupted and reconstituted backcross genotypes within and between species. The disruption effect on COX activity was restricted to males of interspecific genotypes. These data support the coadaptation hypothesis and are consistent with predictions that the evolution of modifiers of male mitochondrial dysfunction is hindered by the maternal inheritance of mtDNA. New sequence data for nuclear encoded subunits of COX identified amino acids that may play a role in the disruption effect.     

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP22 gene codes for the mitochondrial ATPase subunit 6-specific translation factor

Mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP22 gene were previously shown to block assembly of the F0 component of the mitochondrial proton-translocating ATPase. Further inquiries into the function of Atp22p have revealed that it is essential for translation of subunit 6 of the mitochondrial ATPase. The mutant phenotype can be partially rescued by the presence in the same cell of wild-type mitochondrial DNA and a rho- deletion genome in which the 5'-UTR, first exon, and first intron of COX1 are fused to the fourth codon of ATP6. The COX1/ATP6 gene is transcribed and processed to the mature mRNA by splicing of the COX1 intron from the precursor. The hybrid protein translated from the novel mRNA is proteolytically cleaved at the normal site between residues 10 and 11 of the subunit 6 precursor, causing the release of the polypeptide encoded by the COX1 exon. The ability of the rho- suppressor genome to express subunit 6 in an atp22 null mutant constitutes strong evidence that translation of subunit 6 depends on the interaction of Atp22p with the 5'-UTR of the ATP6 mRNA.     

绿眼赛茧蜂线粒体基因组全序列测定和分析

【目的】测定绿眼赛茧蜂Zele chlorophthalmus线粒体基因组全序列,分析其基因组结构及茧蜂科(Braconidae)部分类群的系统发育关系。【方法】利用Illumina MiSeq二代测序技术对绿眼赛茧蜂的线粒体基因组进行测序,对基因组序列进行拼装、注释,分析其结构特点和碱基组成;基于22种茧蜂科昆虫的COX1蛋白编码基因序列,应用最大似然法(ML)和邻接法(NJ)构建系统发育树,分析绿眼赛茧蜂与茧蜂科其他昆虫的系统发育关系。【结果】绿眼赛茧蜂线粒体基因组全长16 661 bp(GenBank登录号: MG822749),包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个tRNA基因和2个rRNA基因,共37个基因,以及1个控制区。线粒体基因组有明显的核苷酸组成的偏倚,AT偏正,GC偏负,其A+T含量为82.83%。基因排列顺序与推测的昆虫祖先的序列不完全一致,tRNA基因7处发生重排。13个蛋白质编码基因均以ATN为起始密码子,以TAA为终止密码子。在22个tRNA基因二级结构中,除tRNA^His(H)缺失TΨC环和tRNA^Cys(C)仅剩二氢尿嘧啶(DHU)臂和反密码子臂外,其余tRNA基因均能形成典型的三叶草结构。基于COX1蛋白编码序列的系统发育分析结果显示,与绿眼赛茧蜂亲缘关系最近的是同属于赛茧蜂属的雪跗赛茧蜂Z. niveitarsis。【结论】本研究首次获得绿眼赛茧蜂线粒体基因组全序列。结果表明绿眼赛茧蜂隶属于优茧蜂亚科(Euphorinae)赛茧蜂属,并支持赛茧蜂属的单系性。     

Molecular evolution of cytochrome c oxidase: rate variation among subunit VIa isoforms

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) consists of 13 subunits, 3 encoded in the mitochondrial genome and 10 in the nucleus. Little is known of the role of the nuclear-encoded subunits, some of which exhibit tissue-specific isoforms. Subunit VIa is unique in having tissue-specific isoforms in all mammalian species examined. We examined relative evolutionary rates for the COX6A heart (H) and liver (L) isoform genes along the length of the molecule, specifically in relation to the tissue-specific function(s) of the two isoforms. Nonsynonymous (amino acid replacement) substitutions in the COX6AH gene occurred more frequently than in the ubiquitously expressed COX6AL gene. Maximum-parsimony analysis and sequence divergences from reconstructed ancestral sequences revealed that after the ancestral COX6A gene duplicated to yield the genes for the H and L isoforms, the sequences encoding the mitochondrial matrix region of the COX VIa protein experienced an elevated rate of nonsynonymous substitutions relative to synonymous substitutions. This is expected for relaxed selective constraints after gene duplication followed by purifying selection to preserve the replacements with tissue-specific functions.      

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence and gene organization of the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) with phylogenetic consideration

The complete mitochondrial genome is of great importance for better understanding the genome-level characteristics and phylogenetic relationships among related species. In the present study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome DNA sequence of the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) by 454 deep sequencing and Sanger sequencing approaches. The complete genome DNA was 15,824 bp in length and contained a typical set of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and a putative control region (CR). Of 37 genes, twenty-three were encoded by the heavy strand (H-strand), while the other ones were encoded by light strand (L-strand). The gene order in the mitochondrial genome was largely identical to those obtained in most arthropods, although the relative position of gene tRNA^His differed from other arthropods. Among 13 protein-coding genes, three (ATPase subunit 6 (ATP6), NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1 (ND1) and ND3) started with a rare start codon ATT, whereas, one gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) ended with the incomplete stop codon TA. All 22 tRNAs could fold into a typical clover-leaf secondary structure, with the gene sizes ranging from 63 to 73 bp. The phylogenetic analysis based on 12 concatenated protein-coding genes showed that the molecular genetic relationship of 19 species of 11 genera was identical to the traditional taxonomy.     

池蝶蚌线粒体基因组全序列分析

采用普通PCR扩增、SHOT-GUN测序、软件拼接首次获得了池蝶蚌（Hyriopsis schlegelii）线粒体基因组全序列。线粒体基因组全长为15939 bp,由13个蛋白质编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个SrRNA基因和28个长度为1393 bp的非编码区组成;除ND3-ND5、ND4L、ATP6、ATP8、COX1-COX3、tRNA-D、tRNA-H之外,其他大多数基因在L链编码。池蝶蚌线粒体全基因组序列、蛋白编码基因、tRNA基因、rRNA基因及非编码区的A+T含量分别为60.36%、59.84%、61.7%、60.23%及62.5%,与其他淡水蚌类一致,均表现出A+T偏好性,淡水蚌类线粒体基因组长度的差异主要表现在非编码区长度的差异。池蝶蚌mtDNA的COX2-12SrRNA区域基因排列存在差异,是ND3、tRNAHis、tRNAAla、tRNASer1、tRNASer2、tRNAGlu、ND2、tRNAMet 8个基因发生重组造成。22个tRNA基因都具有典型的三叶草二级结构,tRNA-E与 tRNA-W间的非编码区含有一个ORF区,而控制区并未发现。从GenBank上下载的14种双壳纲贝类的mtDNA序列构建的系统进化树,显示池蝶蚌与三角帆蚌亲缘关系最近。研究结果为淡水珍珠蚌线粒体基因重排及进化特征提供理论依据。       

Gene organization deduced from the complete sequence of liverwort Marchantia polymorpha mitochondrial DNA. A primitive form of plant mitochondrial genome.

Analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of a liverwort Marchantia polymorpha by electron microscopy and restriction endonuclease mapping indicated that the liverwort mitochondrial genome was a single circular molecule of about 184,400 base-pairs. We have determined the complete sequence of the liverwort mitochondrial DNA and detected 94 possible genes in the sequence of 186,608 base-pairs. These included genes for three species of ribosomal RNA, 29 genes for 27 species of transfer RNA and 30 open reading frames (ORFs) for functionally known proteins (16 ribosomal proteins, 3 subunits of H(+)-ATPase, 3 subunits of cytochrome c oxidase, apocytochrome b protein and 7 subunits of NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase). Three ORFs showed similarity to ORFs of unknown function in the mitochondrial genomes of other organisms. Furthermore, 29 ORFs were predicted as possible genes by using the index of G + C content in first, second and third letters of codons (42.0 +/- 10.9%, 37.0 +/- 13.2% and 26.4 +/- 9.4%, respectively) obtained from the codon usages of identified liverwort genes. To date, 32 introns belonging to either group I or group II intron have been found in the coding regions of 17 genes including ribosomal RNA genes (rrn18 and rrn26), a transfer RNA gene (trnS) and a pseudogene (psi nad7). RNA editing was apparently lacking in liverwort mitochondria since the nucleotide sequences of the liverwort mitochondrial DNA were well-conserved at the DNA level.     

Two circular chromosomes of unequal copy number make up the mitochondrial genome of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

The monogonont rotifer Brachionus plicatilis is an emerging model system for a diverse array of questions in limnological ecosystem dynamics, the evolution of sexual recombination, cryptic speciation, and the phylogeny of basal metazoans. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of B. plicatilis sensu strictu NH1L and found that it is composed of 2 circular chromosomes, designated mtDNA-I (11,153 bp) and mtDNA-II (12,672 bp). Hybridization to DNA isolated from mitochondria demonstrated that mtDNA-I is present at 4 times the copy number of mtDNA-II. The only nucleotide similarity between the 2 chromosomes is a 4.9-kbp region of 99.5% identity including a transfer RNA (tRNA) gene and an extensive noncoding region that contains putative D-loop and control sequence. The mtDNA-I chromosome encodes 4 proteins (ATP6, COB, NAD1, and NAD2), 13 tRNAs, and the large and small subunit ribosomal RNAs; mtDNA-II encodes 8 proteins (COX1-3, NAD3-6, and NAD4L) and 9 tRNAs. Gene order is not conserved between B. plicatilis and its closest relative with a sequenced mitochondrial genome, the acanthocephalan Leptorhynchoides thecatus, or other sequenced mitochondrial genomes. Polymerase chain reaction assays and Southern hybridization to DNA from 18 strains of Brachionus suggest that the 2-chromosome structure has been stable for millions of years. The novel organization of the B. plicatilis mitochondrial genome into 2 nearly equal chromosomes of 4-fold different copy number may provide insight into the evolution of metazoan mitochondria and the phylogenetics of rotifers and other basal animal phyla.     

Preliminary evidences on mitochondrial injury and impaired oxidative metabolism in breast cancer

Mitochondriopathy is emerging as a new cancer theory; however, the relevance of mitochondrial pathobiology in breast cancer has not yet been completely explored. Herein we report on altered expression levels of the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) subunits, mitochondrial structural injury and impaired ATP content from a breast-infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). With this purpose, a human mammary carcinoma (HMC-1) cell, referred to a human mammary epithelial cell (HMEC) line, was assayed for: a) OXPHOS levels by quantitative cryo-immunoelectron microscopy (CIEM) labeling; b) morphological characterization by a newly introduced damage grading (scale Mt-g1-3), calculated on the % of intact cristae carrying mitochondria; c) bioenergetic impairment by luminometric determinations of cellular ATP content and cytochemical visualization of COX activity. Drastic OXPHOS reduction was observed in HMC-1 cells for the succinate-dehydrogenase complex II SDH-B protein, while decreasing was reported for the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex I NDUFS3 and the ubiquinol cytochrome c reductase complex III UQCRC2 subunits. A significant dropping was detected for the ATP-synthase complex V F1β protein. For the COX complex near-depletion of the mitochondrial-encoded COXI and no apparent variation of the COXIV subunits were observed. Injury grading was categorized assigning three levels of morphological damage in HMC-1 mitochondria: i) severe (4.6%), ii) moderate (23.1%), iii) slight (44.6%), corresponding to 0%, 1-50% and 51-75% of area occupied by intact cristae. ATP generation and COX activity appeared significantly reduced in HMC-1 cells. The structural damage grading here described could provide new insight on IDC mitochondrial impairment and represent hallmark in the breast cancer mitochondriopathy.     

Homology between the ribosomal DNA of Escherichia coli and mitochondrial DNA preparations of maize is principally to sequences other than mitochondrial rRNA genes

E. coli ribosomal DNA has been used to probe maize mitochondrial DNA. It hybridizes primarily with chloroplast ribosomal DNA sequences and with fungal and bacterial sequences which may contaminate the mtDNA preparations. It also hybridizes to the chloroplast 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence present in the mitochondrial genome (1) as well as to the mitochondrial 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. Weak sequence homology was detected between E. coli rDNA and the mitochondrial 26S ribosomal RNA gene.