Complete mitochondrial genome of the red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (Perciformes, Sciaenidae): Absence of the typical conserved motif in the origin of the light-strand replication

Abstract

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of the red drum Sciaenops ocellatus was determined first. The genome was 16,500 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 2 main non-coding regions (the control region and the origin of the light-strand replication); the gene composition and order of which were similar to most other vertebrates. The overall base composition of the heavy strand was T 25.5%, C 30.7%, A 27.5%, and G 16.3%, with a slight AT bias of 53%. Within the control region, the discrete and conserved sequence blocks were identified. Motif 5′-ACCGG-3′ rather than 5′-GCCGG-3′ was detected in the origin of light-strand replication (O_L) of red drum, which is rare in the mitogenomes of Sciaenidae species. These results would play an important role in elucidating sequence–function relationships of the O_L.

Keywords::

• Red drum
• Sciaenidae
• mitogenome
• origin of the light-strand replication

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (31001120), Important Science and Technology Specific Projects of Zhejiang Province (2011C14012), and the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Sciences Foundation of China (Y3100013).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.