Variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRs), heteroplasmy, and sequence variation of the mitochondrial control region in the three-spot Dascyllus, Dascyllus trimaculatus (Perciformes: Pomacentridae)

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Zoological Studies

Volume

43

Issue

4

First Page

803

Last Page

812

Publication Date

2004

Abstract

The primary structure of the Dascyllus trimaculatus mitochondrial (mt) control region was determined, and conserved features were identified based on sequence comparisons to other teleostean fish species. Three termination-associated sequence (TAS) motifs, a central conserved sequence block (CSB), and a pyrimidine tract were identified, indicating that the organization of the mt control region in D. trimaculatus is similar to those reported for other teleosts. However, 2 sets of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs), denoted R1 and R2, which simultaneously occur at both the 5’- and 3’-ends of the mt control region are first reported herein in teleost fish. Analysis of amplification of the VNTRs indicated that heteroplasmy is common for both sets of VNTRs. VNTRs also respond to sequence length variation of the D. trimaculatus mt control region. A relatively high proportion of VNTR copy number variations and heteroplasmy indicate the potential utility of VNTRs as markers for assessing three-spot dascyllus population-level variability.

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Disciplines

Biology

Keywords

Dascyllus; Osteichthyes; Mitochondrial DNA

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