An evolutionary preserved intergenic spacer in gadiform mitogenomes generates a long noncoding RNA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vertebrate mitogenomes are economically organized and usually lack intergenic sequences other than the control region. Intergenic spacers located between the tRNA(Thr) and tRNA(Pro) genes ("T-P spacers") have been observed in several taxa, including gadiform species, but information about their biological roles and putative functions is still lacking.

Results

Sequence characterization of the complete European hake Merluccius merluccius mitogenome identified a complex T-P spacer ranging in size from 223-532 bp. Further analyses of 32 gadiform species, representing 8 families and 28 genera, revealed the evolutionary preserved presence of T-P spacers across all taxa. Molecular complexity of the T-P spacers was found to be coherent with the phylogenetic relationships,

SUBMITTER: Jorgensen TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4236577 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature