title: Comparative sequence analysis of the non-protein-coding mitochondrial DNA of inbred rat strains.
abstract: The proper function of mammalian mitochondria necessitates a coordinated expression of both nuclear and mitochondrial genes, most likely due to the co-evolution of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. The non-protein coding regions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) including the D-loop, tRNA and rRNA genes form a major component of this regulated expression unit. Here we present comparative analyses of the non-protein-coding regions from 27 Rattus norvegicus mtDNA sequences. There were two variable positions in 12S rRNA, 20 in 16S rRNA, eight within the tRNA genes and 13 in the D-loop. Only one of the three neutrality tests used demonstrated statistically significant evidence for selection in 16S rRNA and tRNA-Cys. Based on our analyses of conserved sequences, we propose that some of the variable nucleotide positions identified in 16S rRNA and tRNA-Cys, and the D-loop might be important for mitochondrial function and its regulation.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences-Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. avinash.abhyankar@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abhyankar
authors.forename: Hee-Bok
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonolo
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luthman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012343:RNA, Transfer