Analysis of a conserved duplicated tRNA gene in the mitochondrial genome of blowflies

• Published in: Gene Vol. 339; no. C; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Lessinger, Ana Cláudia, Junqueira, Ana Carolina M., Conte, Fábio F., Azeredo-Espin, Ana Maria L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.09.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; Calliphoridae; Chrysomya; Chrysomya albiceps; Chrysomya megacephala; Cloning, Molecular; Conserved Sequence - genetics; Control region; Diptera - genetics; DNA - chemistry; DNA - genetics; DNA, Mitochondrial - chemistry; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Genes, Duplicate - genetics; Molecular evolution; Molecular Sequence Data; mtDNA; Pseudogenes - genetics; Rearrangement; RNA, Transfer - genetics; RNA, Transfer, Gln - genetics; RNA, Transfer, Ile - genetics; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; A; C; mtDNA; G; trn or tRNA; bp; rrnS; CSB; T; trnS; U; trnP; trnQ; trnY; trnF; Chrysomya; IQM; trnM; CIR; CR; trnI; Molecular evolution; Control region; nad1–6; Rearrangement
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2004.06.041

The mtDNA control region (CR) and flanking genes of the blowflies Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya chloropyga (Calliphoridae) were characterized. The most unusual feature found was the presence of duplicated tRNA sequences corresponding to trnI and a portion of trnQ. The partially duplicated trnQ was very likely a pseudogene since most of the sequence of the typical insect trnQ gene was missing. In contrast, the trnI gene had a conserved primary sequence following the duplication event and may represent a functional copy. These results demonstrate the plasticity of the mtDNA molecule in Chrysomya, especially for tRNA genes and the adjacent control region sequences.