Nucleotide Sequence and Gene Organization of the Starfish Asterina Pectinifera Mitochondrial Genome

The 16,260-bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the starfish Asterina pectinifera has been sequenced. The genes for 13 proteins, two rRNAs and 22 tRNAs are organized in an extremely economical fashion, similar to those of other animal mtDNAs, with some of the genes overlapping each other. The gene organization is the same as that for another echinoderm, sea urchin, except for the inversion of a 4.6-kb segment that contains genes for two proteins, 13 tRNAs and the 16S rRNA. Judging from the organization of the protein coding genes, mammalian mtDNAs resemble the sea urchin mtDNA more than that of the starfish. The region around the 3' end of the 12S rRNA gene of the starfish shows a high similarity with those for vertebrates. This region encodes a possible stem and loop structure; similar potential structures occur in this region of vertebrate mtDNAs and also in nonmitochondrial small subunit rRNA. A similar stem and loop structure is also found at the 3' end of the 16S rRNA genes in A. pectinifera, in another starfish Pisaster ochraceus, in vertebrates and in Drosophila, but not in sea urchins. The full sequence data confirm the presumption that AGA/AGG, AUA and AAA codons, respectively, code for serine, isoleucine, and asparagine in the starfish mitochondria, and that AGA/AGG codons are read by tRNA(GCU)(Ser), which possesses a truncated dihydrouridine arm, that was previously suggested from a partial mtDNA sequence. The structural characteristics of tRNAs and possible mechanisms for the change in the mitochondrial genetic code are also discussed.     

Mitochondrial DNA in the sea urchin Arbacia lixula: evolutionary inferences from nucleotide sequence analysis.

From the stirodont Arbacia lixula we determined the sequence of 5,127 nucleotides of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encompassing 18 tRNAs, two complete coding genes, parts of three other coding genes, and part of the 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The sequence confirms that the organization of mtDNA is conserved within echinoids. Furthermore, it underlines the following peculiar features of sea urchin mtDNA: the clustering of tRNAs, the short noncoding regulatory sequence, and the separation by the ND1 and ND2 genes of the two rRNA genes. Comparison with the orthologous sequences from the camarodont species Paracentrotus lividus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus revealed that (1) echinoids have an extra piece on the amino terminus of the ND5 gene that is probably the remnant of an old leucine tRNA gene; (2) third-position codon nucleotide usage has diverged between A. lixula and the camarodont species to a significant extent, implying different directional mutational pressures; and (3) the stirodont-camarodont divergence occurred twice as long ago as did the P. lividus-S. purpuratus divergence.     

Genetic characterization of the mitochondrial DNA from Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Crustacea; Copepoda). A new gene organization revealed

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, is 15445 bp. It includes the genes coding for cytochrome B (Cyt B), ATPase subunit 6 and 8 (A6 and A8), NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1-6 and 4L (ND1, ND2, ND3, ND4, ND4L, ND5 and ND6), cytochrome c oxidase subunits I-III (COI, COII and COIII), two rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and 22 tRNAs. Two copies of tRNA-Lys are present in the mtDNA of L. salmonis, while tRNA-Cys was not identified. Both DNA strands contain coding regions in the salmon louse, in contrast to the other copepod characterized Tigriopus japonicus, but only a few genes overlap. In vertebrates, ND4 and ND4L are transcribed as one bicistronic mRNA, and are therefore localized together. The same organization is also found in crustaceans, with the exceptions of T. japonicus, Neocalanus cristatus and L. salmonis that deviate from this pattern. Another exception of the L. salmonis mtDNA is that A6 and A8 do not overlap, but are separated by several genes. The protein-coding genes have a bias towards AT-rich codons. The mitochondrial gene order in L. salmonis differs significantly from the copepods T. japonicus, Eucalanus bungii, N. cristatus and the other 13 crustaceans previously characterized. Furthermore, the mitochondrial rRNA genes are encoded on opposite strands in L. salmonis. This has not been found in any other arthropods, but has been reported in two starfish species. In a phylogenetic analysis, using an alignment of mitochondrial protein sequences, L. salmonis groups together with T. japonicus, being distant relatives to the other crustaceans.     

Drosophila Melanogaster Mitochondrial DNA: Gene Organization and Evolutionary Considerations

The sequence of a 8351-nucleotide mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragment has been obtained extending the knowledge of the Drosophila melanogaster mitochondrial genome to 90% of its coding region. The sequence encodes seven polypeptides, 12 tRNAs and the 3' end of the 16S rRNA and CO III genes. The gene organization is strictly conserved with respect to the Drosophila yakuba mitochondrial genome, and different from that found in mammals and Xenopus. The high A + T content of D. melanogaster mitochondrial DNA is reflected in a reiterative codon usage, with more than 90% of the codons ending in T or A, G + C rich codons being practically absent. The average level of homology between the D. melanogaster and D. yakuba sequences is very high (roughly 94%), although insertion and deletions have been detected in protein, tRNA and large ribosomal genes. The analysis of nucleotide changes reveals a similar frequency for transitions and transversions, and reflects a strong bias against G + C on both strands. The predominant type of transition is strand specific.     

Nucleotide sequence of nine protein-coding genes and 22 tRNAs in the mitochondrial DNA of the sea starPisaster ochraceus

Summary We have cloned and sequenced over 9 kb of the mitochondrial genome from the sea starPisaster ochraceus. Within a continuous 8.0-kb fragment are located the genes for NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1, 2, 3, and 4L (ND1, ND2, ND3, and ND4L), cytochrome oxidase subunits I, II, and III (COI, COII, and COIII), and adenosine triphosphatase subunits 6 and 8 (ATPase 6 and ATPase 8). This large fragment also contains a cluster of 13 tRNA genes between ND1 and COI as well as the genes for isoleucine tRNA between ND1 and ND2, arginine tRNA between COI and ND4L, lysine tRNA between COII and ATPase 8, and the serine (UCN) tRNA between COIII and ND3. The genes for the other five tRNAs lie outside this fragment. The gene for phenylalanine tRNA is located between cytochrome b and the 12S ribosomal genes. The genes for tRNA^glu and tRNA^thr are 3 to the 12S ribosomal gene. The tRNAs for histidine and serine (AGN) are adjacent to each other and lie between ND4 and ND5. These data confirm the novel gene order in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of sea stars and delineate additional distinctions between the sea star and other mtDNA molecules.     

中华雏蝗（Chorthippus chinensis Tarb）线粒体基因组分析

采用Lon-PCR扩增线粒体全基因组和保守引物步移法结合克隆方法测定并拼接获得了中华雏蝗（Chorthippus chinensis Tarb）线粒体基因组全序列．序列的注释和分析结果表 明,中华雏蝗线粒体基因组序列全长15 599 bp,共有13个编码蛋白质基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和1个A+T富集区．基因顺序与非洲飞蝗（Locusta migratoria）相同,也发生了2个 tRNA Asp(D)和tRNALys(K)的倒置．13个编码蛋白质基因都使用了ATN作为起始密码子．除ND1以TAG和ND5的终止密码子为不完全的T外,其余11个编码蛋白质基因的终止密码子都为完整的TAA．6种直翅类昆虫13个蛋白质的氨基酸序列的联合数据集构建的系统树与形态分类系统一致,中华雏蝗与非洲飞蝗为姐妹群,并与东方蝼蛄构成一单系群．     

黄毛纺蚋线粒体基因组全序列测定与分析

利用PCR步移法对黄毛纺蚋的线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定和分析。黄毛纺蚋线粒体基因组全长15904 bp(Gen Bank序列号KP793690),包括13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因以及长度为939 bp的非编码区。A、T、C、G碱基含量分别为39.1%、35.8%、10.4%、14.7%。9个蛋白编码基因和14个tRNA基因在J链编码,其余4个蛋白编码基因和8个tRNA基因在N链编码,基因排列顺序与其它已知双翅目昆虫相同。13个蛋白编码基因中除COI以TTG作为起始密码外,其余蛋白质基因均以ATN作为起始密码子,终止密码子多数为典型的TAA、TAG,只有COI和ND4L以单独的T作为终止密码子。在所测得的22个tRNA基因中,除tRNASer(AGN)缺少DHU臂外,其余tRNA均能形成典型的三叶草结构。     

麦穗鱼线粒体基因组序列测定及分析

利用麦穗鱼Pseudorasbora parva和相关鱼类的部分线粒体基因序列,设计出2对长批引物和30对短批引物,采用基于长PCR的2次PCR扩增法测定并注释麦穗鱼线粒体基因组全序列。结果表明,麦穗鱼线粒体基因组长16600bp,A+T含量为58.9%,37个基因位置及组成与其它硬骨鱼一致,均由13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA、2个rRNA基因和1个控制区(D-loop)组成。其中L链仅含8个tRNA(Pro、T yr、Ser、Ala、Asn、Cys、Glu、Gln)及ND6基因,其余基因皆由H链编码。基因排列紧密,间隔序列共计13处64bp,长度从1～32bp不等;基因重叠区7处23bp,重叠碱基数在1～7bp之间。13个蛋白编码基因中,除COI起始密码子为GTG外,其余均以ATG为起始密码子;有8个基因(ND1、ND2、COI、ATP6、ATP8、ND4L、ND5、ND6)3’端有完全的TAA或TAG终止密码子,其它5个基因终止密码子为不完整的TA(ND3和ND4)或T(COⅡ,COⅢ,Cyt b)。除tRNASer(AGY)外,其余21个tRNA基因的二级结构均为典型的三叶草结构。预测的lrRNA二级结构共有6个结构域,53个茎环结构,srRNA二级结构包含43个茎环结构。控制区(D-loop)存在3个结构区:终止序列区(TAS)、中央保守区(CSB-F、CSB-D)和保守序列区(CSB-1、CSB-2、CSB-3),其中TAS与DNA复制终止相关,出现茎环结构。     

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Beet Webworm,Spoladea recurvalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Its Phylogenetic Implications

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the beet webworm, Spoladea recurvalis has been sequenced. The circular genome is 15,273 bp in size, encoding 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes and containing a control region with gene order and orientation identical to that of other ditrysian lepidopteran mitogenomes. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome shows a high A+T content of 80.9%, and the AT skewness is slightly negative (-0.023). All PCGs start with the typical ATN codons, except for COX1, which may start with the CGA codon. Nine of 13 PCGs have the common stop codon TAA; however, COX1, COX2 and ND5 utilize the T nucleotide and ND4 utilizes TA nucleotides as incomplete termination codons. All tRNAs genes are folded into the typical cloverleaf structure of mitochondrial tRNAs, except for the tRNA^Ser(AGY) gene, in which the DHU arm fails to form a stable stem-loop structure. A total of 157 bp intergenic spacers are scattered in 17 regions. The overlapping sequences are 42 bp in total and found in eight different locations. The 329 bp AT-rich region is comprised of non-repetitive sequences, including the motif ATAG, which is followed by a 14 bp poly-T stretch, a (AT₁₁ microsatellite-like repeat, which is adjacent to the motif ATTTA, and a 9 bp poly-A, which is immediately upstream from the tRNA^Met gene. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 13 PCGs and 13 PCGs+2 rRNAs using Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood methods, show that the classification position of Pyraloidea is inconsistent with the traditional classification. Hesperioidea is placed within the Papilionoidea rather than as a sister group to it. The Pyraloidea is placed within the Macrolepidoptera with other superfamilies instead of the Papilionoidea.     

褶纹冠蚌线粒体基因组全序列分析

采用LA-PCR(Long amplification polymerase chain reaction )扩增方法首次获得褶纹冠蚌(Cristaria plicata)线粒体基因组全序列。分析表明:序列全长15 712 bp, 包括13个蛋白质基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和26个长度为2~328 bp的非编码区。A、T、C、G碱基组成分别为36.54%、27.22%、23.22%、13.02%。大部分基因在L链编码, 其中ND3~ND5、ND4L、COI~COIII、ATP6、ATP8、tRNA^Asp和tRNA^His在H链编码。基因排列与同科的射线佩饰真珠蚌(Lampsilis ornata)一致, 与三角帆蚌(Hyriopsis cumingii)在COII和12S rRNA之间存在差异。13个蛋白质基因具有I(AUU、AUC)、V(GUG)、M (AUA、AUG)3种起始密码子, 除ND2终止密码子为不完整的T, 其余基因均为典型的UAA或UAG。22个tRNA中, 除tRNA^Thr、tRNA^Lys、tRNA^Ser(UCN)、tRNA^Asp、tRNA^Arg、tRNA^Tyr和tRNA^Met之外, 其他15个tRNA都具有典型三叶草结构。与其他淡水双壳贝类一样, 褶纹冠蚌具有ATP8基因, 该基因可能与细胞质的渗透压平衡有关。     

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。       

Mitochondrial genome of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and comparison with other Lepidopterans

We present the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. The 15,347-bp mitogenome of H. armigera was arranged in the same order described for all other sequenced lepidopterans, which differs from the most common type found in insects, due to the movement of trnM to a position 5'-upstream of trnI. The gene overlap in the H. armigera mitogenome is totally 23 bp in six locations. The H. armigera mitogenome has a total of 175 bp of intergenic spacer sequences spread over 14 regions ranging in size from 1 to 45 bp. The nucleotide composition of the whole mitogenome of H. armigera is highly A+T biased, accounting for 80.97%, with a slightly positive AT skewness and negative GC skewness, indicating the occurrence of more A than T, C more than G. The protein-encoding genes have typical mitochondrial start codons, except for cox1, which contains the unusual CGA. The cox1, cox2, and nad4 genes have incomplete stop codons (T). The lrRNA and srRNA genes are 1395 and 794-bp long, respectively. All tRNAs have a typical cloverleaf structure of mitochondrial tRNAs, except for trnS1(AGN), the dihydrouridine arm of which could not form a stable stem-loop structure. The H. armigera A+T-rich region contains a conserved structure combining the motif ATAGA and a 19-bp poly-T stretch, but absence of the 9-bp poly-A element upstream of trnM.     

大紫蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列分析

通过PCR步移法对大紫蛱蝶Sasakia charonda coreana线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定和分析。分析结果表明:大紫蛱蝶线粒体基因组全长15233bp,包括13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因以及长度为381bp的非编码区。A、T、C、G碱基含量分别为39.7%、40.2%、12.2%、7.9%。9个蛋白编码基因和14个tRNA基因在J链编码,其余4个蛋白编码基因和8个tRNA基因在N链编码,基因排列顺序与其它已知鳞翅目昆虫相同。13个蛋白编码基因中除COⅠ以CGA作为起始密码外,其余蛋白质基因均以ATN作为起始密码子,终止密码子多数为典型的TAA、TAG,只有COⅡ和ND4以单独的T作为终止密码子。在所测得的22个tRNA基因中,除tRNA Ser(AGN)缺少DHU臂外,其余tRNA均能形成典型的三叶草结构。与其它多数鳞翅目昆虫一样,大紫蛱蝶的非编码区序列中散在着一些长短不一的串联重复单元,在与其近缘物种非编码区的比较当中并未发现共同的保守序列区。     

The mitochondrial genome of the sea anemone Metridium senile (Cnidaria): introns,a paucity of tRNA genes,and a near-standard genetic code.

The circular, 17,443 nucleotide-pair mitochondrial (mt) DNA molecule of the sea anemone, Metridium senile (class Anthozoa, phylum Cnidaria) is presented. This molecule contains genes for 13 energy pathway proteins and two ribosomal (r) RNAs but, relative to other metazoan mtDNAs, has two unique features: only two transfer RNAs (tRNA(f-Met) and tRNA(Trp)) are encoded, and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5) genes each include a group I intron. The COI intron encodes a putative homing endonuclease, and the ND5 intron contains the molecule''s ND1 and ND3 genes. Most of the unusual characteristics of other metazoan mtDNAs are not found in M. senile mtDNA: unorthodox translation initiation codons and partial translation termination codons are absent, the use of TGA to specify tryptophan is the only genetic code modification, and both encoded tRNAs have primary and secondary structures closely resembling those of standard tRNAs. Also, with regard to size and secondary structure potential, the mt-s-rRNA and mt-1-rRNA have the least deviation from Escherichia coli 16S and 23S rRNAs of all known metazoan mt-rRNAs. These observations indicate that most of the genetic variations previously reported in metazoan mtDNAs developed after Cnidaria diverged from the common ancestral line of all other Metazoa.     

赤麂线粒体全基因组的序列和结构

提取赤麂细胞株总DNA,参照我们实验室已测定的同属动物小麂线粒体全基因组序列设计引物,PCR扩增、测序、拼接,获得赤麂线粒体全基因组序列并进行生物信息学分析。赤麂线粒体全基因组序列全长16354bp。定位了22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因、13个蛋白编码基因和1个D-loop区。赤麂与小麂及其它哺乳动物线粒体的基因组结构相同,它们的序列同源性都较高。     

Comparison of codon usage and tRNAs in mitochondrial genomes of Candida species

To gain insight into the nature of the mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) of different Candida species, the synonymous codon usage bias of mitochondrial protein coding genes and the tRNAs in C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. stellata, C. glabrata and the closely related yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were analyzed. Common features of the mtDNA in Candida species are a strong A+T pressure on protein coding genes, and insufficient mitochondrial tRNA species are encoded to perform protein synthesis. The wobble site of the anticodon is always U for the NNR (NNA and NNG) codon families, which are dominated by A-ending codons, and always G for the NNY (NNC and NNU) codon families, which is dominated by U-ending codons, and always U for the NNN (NNA, NNU, NNC and NNG) codon families, which are dominated by A-ending codons and U-ending codons. Patterns of synonymous codon usage of Candida species can be classified into three groups: (1) optimal codon-anticodon usage, Glu, Lys, Leu (translated by anti-codon UAA), Gln, Arg (translated by anti-codon UCU) and Trp are containing NNR codons. NNA, whose corresponding tRNA is encoded in the mtDNA, is used preferentially. (2) Non-optimal codon-anticodon usage, Cys, Asp, Phe, His, Asn, Ser (translated by anti-codon GCU) and Tyr are containing NNY codons. The NNU codon, whose corresponding tRNA is not encoded in the mtDNA, is used preferentially. (3) Combined codon-anticodon usage, Ala, Gly, Leu (translated by anti-codon UAG), Pro, Ser (translated by anti-codon UGA), Thr and Val are containing NNN codons. NNA (tRNA encoded in the mtDNA) and NNU (tRNA not encoded in the mtDNA) are used preferentially. In conclusion, we propose that in Candida species, codons containing A or U at third position are used preferentially, regardless of whether corresponding tRNAs are encoded in the mtDNA. These results might be useful in understanding the common features of the mtDNA in Candida species and patterns of synonymous codon usage.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the dotted gizzard shad Konosirus punctatus (Teleostei, Clupeidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome of the dotted gizzard shad Konosirus punctatus (Teleostei, Clupeidae) has been determined. The entire sequence is 16,706 bp in length, with a gene content (13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs and 1 control region) and organization similar to that observed in most other vertebrates. Overall base composition of the light strand was represented as 25.8% of A, 29.0% of C, 25.1% of T and 20.1% of G. With the exception of ND6 and eight tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. Tandem repeat sequences were observed in the control region, indicating a useful marker for population genetic studies.