title: Sequence and comparative analysis of the maize NB mitochondrial genome.
abstract: The NB mitochondrial genome found in most fertile varieties of commercial maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) was sequenced. The 569,630-bp genome maps as a circle containing 58 identified genes encoding 33 known proteins, 3 ribosomal RNAs, and 21 tRNAs that recognize 14 amino acids. Among the 22 group II introns identified, 7 are trans-spliced. There are 121 open reading frames (ORFs) of at least 300 bp, only 3 of which exist in the mitochondrial genome of rice (Oryza sativa). In total, the identified mitochondrial genes, pseudogenes, ORFs, and cis-spliced introns extend over 127,555 bp (22.39%) of the genome. Integrated plastid DNA accounts for an additional 25,281 bp (4.44%) of the mitochondrial DNA, and phylogenetic analyses raise the possibility that copy correction with DNA from the plastid is an ongoing process. Although the genome contains six pairs of large repeats that cover 17.35% of the genome, small repeats (20-500 bp) account for only 5.59%, and transposable element sequences are extremely rare. MultiPip alignments show that maize mitochondrial DNA has little sequence similarity with other plant mitochondrial genomes, including that of rice, outside of the known functional genes. After eliminating genes, introns, ORFs, and plastid-derived DNA, nearly three-fourths of the maize NB mitochondrial genome is still of unknown origin and function.
authors.affiliation: Genome Sequencing Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63108, USA. sclifton@watson.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Sandra W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Clifton
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minx
authors.forename: Christiane M-R
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fauron
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: James O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: W Brad
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Barbazuk
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanuganti
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tayloe
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Kathleen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D018744:DNA, Plant; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D005838:Genotype; D007438:Introns; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics; D018087:Plastids; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D018744:DNA, Plant; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012343:RNA, Transfer