The complete mitochondrial genome of a tropical sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota

Abstract

The mitochondrial genome of Holothuria leucospilota was 15,906 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. There were four initiation codons (ATG, ATT, ATC, and ATA) for the PCGs, and the termination codon of most PCGs was TAA, except for nad4 (TAG) and nad6 (TAG). Only one PCG (nad6) and five tRNA genes (tRNASer(UCN), tRNAGln, tRNAAla, RNAVal, and tRNAAsp) were encoded on the light chain; the other genes were encoded on the heavy chain. H. leucospilota was most closely related to Holothuria scabra in a phylogenetic tree.

Keywords

• mitochondrial genome
• holothuria leucospilota
• phylogenetic tree
• pcgs