Complete mitochondrial genome of Trypauchen vagina (Perciformes, Gobioidei)

The complete mitochondrial genome of Trypauchen vagina was determined first. The genome is 16,686 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 2 main non-coding regions [the control region (CR) and the origin of the light strand replication], the gene composition and order of which was similar to most other vertebrates. The overall base composition of T. vagina is T 27.6%, C 27.6%, A 29.5%, and G 15.3%, with a slight A+T bias of 57.1%. In addition to the discrete and conserved sequence blocks, an incomplete tandem repeat unit is detected within the CR. This mitogenome sequence data would play an important role in population genetics and phylogenetic analysis of the Gobioidei.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of sable, Martes zibellina

The complete mitogenome sequence of the Sable (NC_011579) was determined using long PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). The genome was 16,523?bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 1 control region. The gene composition and order of which was similar to most other mammals. The overall base composition of the heavy strand in descending order is A (32.0%), C (27. 6%), T (25.8%) and G (14.7%). The base compositions present clearly the A-C skew, which is most obviously in the control region and protein-coding genes. The extended termination-associated sequence domain, the central conserved domain, and the conserved sequence block domain are defined in the mitochondrial genome control region of Sable. This mitogenome sequence data would play an important role in phylogenetics and systematics of Martes zibellina.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the taimen, Hucho taimen, and its unusual features in the control region

The whole mitochondrial genome of Hucho taimen was firstly sequenced and characterized. The genome is 16,833 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a noncoding control region. Twelve protein-coding genes on the heavy strand showed that the content of A+T was higher than that of G+C, whereas the nd6 protein-coding gene on the light strand displayed an opposite pattern. We described the secondary structure of the origin of light strand (oriL) replication and found that the conserved 5'-GCCGG-3' sequence motif is variable in H. taimen and some other salmonids. We conclude that the control region is variable in length and represents the high A+T content, compared with other mitochondrial control regions available in Salmonidae and other non-salmonids. Additionally, another interesting feature of H. taimen mitogenome is that a T-type mononucleotide microsatellite and an 82 bp tandem repeat were identified in the control region.     

A complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Asian black bear Sichuan subspecies (Ursus thibetanus mupinensis)

We obtained the complete mitochondrial genome of U.thibetanus mupinensis by DNA sequencing based on the PCR fragments of 18 primers we designed. The results indicate that the mtDNA is 16,868 bp in size, encodes 13 protein genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes, with an overall H-strand base composition of 31.2% A, 25.4% C, 15.5% G and 27.9% T. The sequence of the control region (CR) located between tRNA-Pro and tRNA-Phe is 1422 bp in size, consists of 8.43% of the whole genome, GC content is 51.9% and has a 6bp tandem repeat and two 10bp tandem repeats identified by using the Tandem Repeats Finder. U. thibetanus mupinensis mitochondrial genome shares high similarity with those of three other Ursidae: U. americanus (91.46%), U. arctos (89.25%) and U. maritimus (87.66%).     

Mitochondrial genome of Silurus asotus (Teleostei: Siluriformes)

The complete mitogenome sequence of the Amur catfish Silurus asotus was determined using long PCRs. The genome was 16,528 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 1 control region; the gene composition and order of which was similar to most other vertebrates. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is 30.5% A, 25.8% T, 28.0% C, and 15.8% G, with an AT content of 56.3%. The mtDNA sequence of S. asotus shared 93.6% and 90.6% sequence identity with that of Silurus meridionalis and Silurus glanis. This mitogenome sequence data would play an important role in silurid catfish phylogenetics and siluriform catfish systematics in general.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the seven-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the seven-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), which is one of the best known insects capable of predation, is described with an emphasis on the noteworthy composition of the A+T-rich region. The C. septempunctata genome consists of 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, and 1 control region, designated as the A+T-rich region in insects. Along with an unusually long A+T-rich region (4469 bp), the 18,965-bp long C. septempunctata mitogenome was the largest in Coleoptera. The A+T-rich region is composed of a 2214-bp long non-repeat region composed of 80.17% A/T nucleotides and a 2256-bp long repeat region composed of 65.71% A/T nucleotides. The repeat region harbors 32 identical 70-bp long tandem repeats plus one 15-bp long incomplete first repeat. These repeat sequences may possibly have been caused by slipped-strand mispairing and unequal crossing-over events during DNA replication.     

Mitochondrial genome of the Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii

The complete mitochondrial genome of Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii had been determined. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,763?bp and had 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and 2 rRNA genes. Except for the eight tRNA and Nd6 genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is 30.3% A, 24.3% T, 29.1% C, 16.3% G, with an AT content of 54.6%. The DNA sequence of A. baerii shared 97.8, 97.6, 93.5, 91.6, 93.6, and 87.1% sequence homology with that of Acipenser sinensis, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser transmontanus, Acipenser dabryanus, Acipenser stellatus, and Polyodon spathula. Molecular data presented here provide a useful tool for evolutionary as well as population genetics studied.     

Mitochondrial genome of Onychostoma lini (Teleostei, Cypriniformes)

The complete mitogenome sequence of a vulnerable species Onychostoma lini was determined using polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced with primer walking method. The complete mitogenome was 16,595?bp in length, containing 37 genes of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). The gene order and composition of O. lini was similar to most other fishes. The descending order of the base composition on heavy strand was 31.6% A, 27.9% C, 24.6% T, and 15.9% G, with a relatively lower level of G and a slight AT bias of 56.2%. The codon usage followed the typical vertebrate mitochondrial pattern (ATG or GTG for start codon and TAA or TAG for stop codon). The complete mitogenome sequence of O. lini provides fundamental data for further conversation genetics and captive breeding studies on this species.     

Mitochondrial genome of the American shad Alosa sapidissima

The complete mitochondrial genome of Alosa sapidissima has been determined. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,697 bp and had a gene content (13 protein-coding, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs. Except for the seven tRNA and Nd6 genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is 28.3% A, 24.8% T, 28.9% C, 17.9% G, with an AT content of 53.1%. The DNA sequence of Alosa. sapidissima shared 97.1, 93.9, 88.8 and 82.3% sequence identity with that of Alosa alosa, Alosa pseudoharengus. Molecular data here presented provide a useful toll for evolutionary as well as population genetic studied.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of Chinese rare minnow, Gobiocypris rarus (Teleostei: Cypriniformes)

The Chinese rare minnow, Gobiocypris rarus, which is endemic to China, is an attractive aquatic laboratory animal in China. In the present study, the complete mitogenome sequence of G. rarus has been determined using long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. It was 16,601 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region, the gene composition and order of which are similar to most other vertebrates. Except for eight tRNA and ND6 genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is 29.5% A, 27.6% T, 25.7% C, and 17.2% G, with a slight AT bias of 57.1%. There are 10 regions of gene overlap totaling 27 bp and 13 intergenic spacer regions totaling 63 bp. The mitogenome sequence of G. rarus could contribute to a better solution of its phylogenetic position within cyprinid fishes based on the whole mitogenomic data.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of Solen strictus (Bivalvia: Solenidae)

In this paper, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of Solen strictus (Bivalvia: Solenidae). The whole mitogenome of S. strictus is 16,535?bp in length with a base composition of 21.7% A, 41.0% T, 25.6% C, and 11.7% G and contains 12 protein-coding genes (atp8 is missing), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a major non-coding region (MNR). Some peculiar patterns including tandem repeats and microsatellite-like elements are found in the MNR of S. strictus.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Chinese oak silkmoth, Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitogenome from Chinese oak silkmoth, Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). The 15,566 bp circular genome contains atypical gene organization and order for lepidopteran mitogenomes. The mitogenome contains the lowest A+T content (80.16%) among the known lepidopteran mitogenome sequences. An unusual feature is the occurrence of more Ts than As, with a slightly negative AT skewness (−0.021), in the composition of the major genome strand. All protein-coding genes are initiated by ATN codons, except for cytochrome oxidase subunit I, which is proposed by the TTAG sequence as observed in other lepidopterans. All transfer RNAs (tRNAs) have a typical clover-leaf structure of mitochondrial tRNA, except for tRNA ^Ser (AGN) , the DHU arm of which could not form a stable stem-loop structure. Two aligned sequence blocks with a length of more than 50 bp and 90% of the sequence identity were identified in the A+T-rich region of the Saturniidae and Bombycoidae species.     

Complete mitochondiral genome of the Korean red fox Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora, Canidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Vulpes vulpes consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region (CR). CR is located between the tRNA-Pro and tRNA-Phe genes and is 1173?base pairs (bp) in length. It consists of a short non-repetitive sequence followed by 8-bp 5'-ACACACGT-3' tandem repeat between conserved sequence black I and conserved sequence black II.     

Structure and evolution of the mitochondrial genome of Exorista sorbillans: the Tachinidae (Diptera: Calyptratae) perspective

The first complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Tachinidae Exorista sorbillans (Diptera) is sequenced by PCR-based approach. The circular mitogenome is 14,960?bp long and has the representative mitochondrial gene (mt gene) organization and order of Diptera. All protein-coding sequences are initiated with ATN codon; however, the only exception is Cox I gene, which has a 4-bp ATCG putative start codon. Ten of the thirteen protein-coding genes have a complete termination codon (TAA), but the rest are seated on the H strand with incomplete codons. The mitogenome of E. sorbillans is biased toward A+T content at 78.4?%, and the strand-specific bias is in reflection of the third codon positions of mt genes, and their T/C ratios as strand indictor are higher on the H strand more than those on the L strand pointing at any strain of seven Diptera flies. The length of the A+T-rich region of E. sorbillans is 106?bp, including a tandem triple copies of a13-bp fragment. Compared to Haematobia irritans, E. sorbillans holds distant relationship with Drosophila. Phylogenetic topologies based on the amino acid sequences, supporting that E. sorbillans (Tachinidae) is clustered with strains of Calliphoridae and Oestridae, and superfamily Oestroidea are polyphyletic groups with Muscidae in a clade.     

The complete mitogenome of the Chinese bush cricket, Gampsocleis gratiosa （Orthoptera： Tettigonioidea）

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Gampsocleis gratiosa was determined. The 15, 929 bp in the size of G. gratiosa mitogenome contains a typical gene content, base composition, and codon usage found in metazoan. All 13 protein coding genes (PCGs) of the G. gratiosa mitogenome start with a typical ATN codon. The usual termination codons (TAA and TAG) were found from 10 PCGs. However, the atp6, nad4, and nad5 had incomplete termination codon (T). The anticodons of all tRNAs are identical to those observed in Drosophila yakuba and Locusta migratoria, and can be folded in the form of a typical clover leaf structure except for trnS (AGN). The secondary structure of trnS (AGN) was drawn according with the Steinberg-Cedergren tertiary structure. The A T content (67.4%) of the A T-rich region is relatively lower among the mitogenome regions, in contrast, it usually contains the highest A T content for most insects. Two isolated sequence repeat regions (202 bp) were found in the A T-rich region with mapping and secondary structure information.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the spotted steed, Hemibarbus maculatus (Teleostei, Cypriniformes)

The complete mitogenome sequence of the spotted steed (Hemibarbus maculatus) was determined using long PCR reactions. The genome is 16,611 bp long and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region. The gene order and composition of H. maculatus was similar to that of most other vertebrates. The base composition of H-strand in descending order is A (29.16%), C (27.41%), T (25.93%), and G (17.50%), with an AT content of 55.09%. The Kimura two-parameter distances between mitogenome sequences of H. maculatus and Hemibarbus labeo, Hemibarbus barbus, Hemibarbus longirostris, Hemibarbus mylodon were 2.09%, 2.35%, 12.77%, and 13.92%, respectively. The phylogenetic relationships among the five Hemibarbus species based on the whole mitogenome sequence data were (((H. barbus, H. labeo), H. maculatus), (H. longirostris, H. mylodon)).     

The complete mitochondrial genome analysis of the tiger (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Panthera tigris</Emphasis>)

The complete mitochondrial genomes of five tiger samples from three subspecies (P. t. sumatrae, P. t. altica, and P. t. tigris) were successfully obtained by using 26 specifically designed Panthera-specific primer sets. The genome organization and gene arrangement of the five tiger samples were similar to each other; however polymorphic tandem repeat sequences were observed in the control region (CR). This led to a difference in the genome lengths obtained from these five samples with an average size of 16,994 bp for the five tiger mitochondrial genomes. The nucleotide base composition was on average as follows: A, 31.8%; T, 27.0%; C, 26.6%; G, 14.6% and exhibited compositional asymmetry. Most of tiger mitochondrial genome characteristics are similar to those of other common vertebrate species; however, some distinctive features were observed in the CR. First, the repetitive sequence 2 (RS 2) contained two repeat units of 80 bp and the first 15 bp of what would be the third repeat motif. The repetitive sequence 3 (RS 3) contained 47–50 repeat motifs of a shorter 8 bp (ACGTAYAC)_n. Second, length heteroplasmy polycystosine (poly-C) stretches was observed at the end of the HV I locus in all tiger samples.     

Mitochondrial genome of Plateau zokor Myospalax baileyi

Plateau zokors Myospalax baileyi are subterranean rodents and endemic to the cold and hypoxic (2800-4300 m above sea level) climate of the farm, prairie, alpine prairie, and meadow habitats across the Tibetan plateau. The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of M. baileyi has been determined. Our results showed that the total length of the mitogenome was 16,351 bp, and had a gene content of 13 protein coding, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs. Except for the seven tRNA and Nd6 genes, all other mt genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The overall base composition of the heavy strand is 33.65% A, 29.65% T, 24.42% C, and 12.28% G, with an AT content of 63.3%.     

The mitochondrial genome of the quiet-calling katydids, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xizicus fascipes</Emphasis> (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae)

To help determine whether the typical arthropod arrangement was a synapomorphy for the whole Tettigoniidae, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the quiet-calling katydids, Xizicus fascipes (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae). The 16,166-bp nucleotide sequences of X. fascipes mitogenome contains the typical gene content, gene order, base composition, and codon usage found in arthropod mitogenomes. As a whole, the X. fascipes mitogenome contains a lower A+T content (70.2%) found in the complete orthopteran mitogenomes determined to date. All protein-coding genes started with a typical ATN codon. Ten of the 13 protein-coding genes have a complete termination codon, but the remaining three genes (COIII, ND5 and ND4) terminate with incomplete T. All tRNAs have the typical clover-leaf structure of mitogenome tRNA, except for tRNA(Ser(AGN)), in which lengthened anticodon stem (9 bp) with a bulged nuleotide in the middle, an unusual T-stem (6 bp in constrast to the normal 5 bp), a mini DHU arm (2 bp) and no connector nucleotides. In the A+T-rich region, two (TA)n conserved blocks that were previously described in Ensifera and two 150-bp tandem repeats plus a partial copy of the composed at 61 bp of the beginning were present. Phylogenetic analysis found: i) the monophyly of Conocephalinae was interrupted by Elimaea cheni from Phaneropterinae; and ii) Meconematinae was the most basal group among these five subfamilies.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean red-backed vole, Myodes regulus (Rodentia, Murinae) from Korea

We have determined the complete mitochondrial genome (NC_016427) of the Korean red-backed vole, Myodes regulus, which is distributed in South Korea. The total length of the M. regulus mitogenome is 16,379?bp, with a base composition of 33.0% A, 26.7% T, 27.1% C, and 13.2% G. The total length of the 13 protein-coding genes is 11,396?bp long.