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Sequence and organization of the human mitochondrial genome

Nature volume 290, pages 457–465 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

The complete sequence of the 16,569-base pair human mitochondrial genome is presented. The genes for the 12S and 16S rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, cytochrome c oxidase subunits I, II and III, ATPase subunit 6, cytochrome b and eight other predicted protein coding genes have been located. The sequence shows extreme economy in that the genes have none or only a few noncoding bases between them, and in many cases the termination codons are not coded in the DNA but are created post-transcriptionally by polyadenylation of the mRNAs.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. J. Drouin

    Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143, USA

  2. D. P. Nierlich

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, College of Letters and Science, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024, USA

  3. B. A. Roe

    Present address: Chemistry Department, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA

  4. P. H. Schreier

    Present address: Institut für Genetik der Universität, 5 Koln 41, Weyertal, 121, FRG

  5. I. G. Young

    Present address: Department of Biochemistry, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, PO Box 334, Canberra City, ACT 2601, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK

    S. Anderson, A. T. Bankier, B. G. Barrell, M. H. L. de Bruijn, A. R. Coulson, J. Drouin, I. C. Eperon, D. P. Nierlich, B. A. Roe, F. Sanger, P. H. Schreier, A. J. H. Smith, R. Staden & I. G. Young

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Anderson, S., Bankier, A., Barrell, B. et al. Sequence and organization of the human mitochondrial genome. Nature 290, 457–465 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/290457a0

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