Cloning and sequence analysis of a mitochondrial gene cluster encoding two NADH dehydrogenase subunits and seven tRNA molecules from Trichoderma reesei

A mitochondrial gene cluster, encoding proteins homologous to NADH dehydrogenase subunits II and III (ND2 and ND3) and seven tRNAs, from Trichoderma reesei QM9414 was cloned and sequenced. These genes are clustered tandemly on the mitochondrial genome of QM9414. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ND2 and ND3 were most closely related to the mitochondrial ND subunits II (71% identity) and III (70% identity) from Podospora anserine. Northern dot blot analysis showed that the nd2 and nd3 genes are actively transcribed in the T. reesei mitochondria.