Complete mitochondrial genome of the Kwangtung skate: Dipturus kwangtungensis (Rajiformes, Rajidae)

Abstract

The complete sequence of mitochondrial DNA of a Kwangtung skate, Dipturus kwangtungensis, was determined as being circular molecules of 16,912 bp including 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA, 13 protein coding genes (PCGs) and a control region. The arrangement of the PCGs is the same as that found in other Rajidae species. The nucleotide of L-strand which encodes most of the proteins is composed of 30.2% A, 27.4% C, 28.2% T and 14.2% G with a bias toward A+T slightly. Twelve of 13 PCGs are initiated by the ATG codon while COX1 starts with GTG. Only ND4 harbors the incomplete termination codon, TA. All tRNA genes have a typical clover-leaf structure of mitochondrial tRNA with the exception of tRNA^Ser_AGY, which has a reduced DHU arm. This mitogenome is the first report for a species of the genus Dipturus, which will become an important source of information on the phylogenetic relationship and the evolution of the genus Dipturus within the family Rajidae.

• Dipturus kwangtungensis
• Kwangtung skate
• mitochondrial genome
• Rajidae

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by the grant of Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (PE98933) and a part of the project titled “Construction of Ocean Research Station and their Application Studies” funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea (PM57420). The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.