Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of D. littoralis (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes in the Drosophila virilis group

An analysis of the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mt-genome) of D. littoralis is presented. Its basic characteristics, such as size, nucleotide composition, gene order, and the degree of purifying selection pressure on different parts of the genome are given. The details of the structure of proteinencoding genes and tRNA genes are discussed. The structure of nonencoding regions (control region and intergenic spacers) of mtDNA of the virilis group is given. Fragments of the mt-genes atp6 and cox3 were found in the nuclear genome of D. virilis. The evolutionary history of the mitochondrial and nuclear sequences of these genes indicates that the process of formation of mt-pseudogenes is currently taking place and is associated with the activity of retrotransposons.