Complete mitochondrial genome of sea urchin: Mesocentrotus nudus (Strongylocentrotidae, Echinoida)

Abstract

The complete nucleotide of mitochondrial DNA of a sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus was determined for the first time. It is 15,709 bp in length containing 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA and 13 protein coding genes generally found in other echinoderm species. The gene order and structure of the genome is identical to those of other Strongylocentrotidae species. The genome was composed of 29.3% A, 23.4% C, 29.5% T, and 17.8% G, showing a slight AT bias (58.8%). The G is the least used base and markedly lower at the third codon position (12.74%). Twelve of the 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes use ATG as their start codon while the ATP8 gene starts with GTG. The control region is 125bp in length and contains a G-stretch of 19 nucleotides, a typical DNA structure of the echinoid mitochondrial genomes.cies. The gene order and structure of the genome is identical to those of other Strongylocentrotidae species. The genome was composed of 29.3% A, 23.4% C, 29.5% T, and 17.8% G, showing a slight AT bias (58.8%). The G is the least used base and markedly lower at the third codon position (12.74%). Twelve of the 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes use ATG as their start codon while the ATP8 gene starts with GTG. The control region is 125bp in length and contains a G-stretch of 19 nucleotides, a typical DNA structure of the echinoid mitochondrial genomes.