Mitochondrial genomes of two African geckos of genus Hemitheconyx (Squamata: Eublepharidae)

Abstract

Mitochondrial genomes of two eyelid geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus and Hemitheconyx taylori) were sequenced. Although these genomes conserve a typical vertebrate gene organization, tRNA^Gln gene of the former appears to have been pseudogenized. A very extensive RNA editing may restore its function in the RNA level or a functional tRNA^Gln encoded in the nuclear chromosome may be imported into mitochondria.

Keywords::

• Eyelid gecko
• mitochondrial DNA
• gene organization
• tRNA
• pseudogene

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (Grant Nos 17570076 and 20370033 to YK and the Japanese Government Scholarship to PJ).

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