title: Tandem repeats and length variation in the mitochondrial DNA control region of Epirrita autumnata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).
abstract: The organization of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) of the autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata, is described. The E. autumnata CR presents a distinct type of lepidopteran CR with domains of non-repetitive and repetitive sequences. The CRs show considerable length variation owing to a variable number of short approximately 29-bp sequence blocks that are repeated between 6 and 14 times in tandem. The organization of such a tandem array is unique among the insect CRs examined so far. Furthermore, the E. autumnata CR, which may reach 1075 bp in length, is considerably longer than previously reported lepidopteran CRs, which reach 311-499 bp in length. Like other lepidopteran CRs, the E. autumnata CR contains two long homopolymer runs that may be involved in mtDNA replication and (or) transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Turku, Finland. niina.snall@utu.fi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Snäll
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huoponen
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Savontaus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruohomäki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D019901:Locus Control Region; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial