Complete mitochondrial genome of Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila melanogaster

The mitochondrial genome sequence of Drosophila melanogaster was generated as a composite, with a total size of 19,517 bp. The D. melanogaster mitochondrial genome encodes 13 proteins, each involved in oxidative phosphorylation, 22 transfer RNAs and 2 ribosomal RNAs. Comparison between D. melanogaster and D. yakuba determined that all genes encoded by the mitochondrial genome are in identical locations and orientations for both species. The D. melanogaster mitochondrial genome contains a non-coding region called the A+T-rich region, which contains the origin of DNA replication. Heterogeneity in the length of the A+T-rich region is thought to be the main contributor to size differences in the mitochondrial genomes between Drosophila species.