The complete mitochondrial genome of Tirumala limniace (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae)

Abstract

The complete mitochondrial nucleotide sequence of Tirumala limniace is 15,285 bp in size, containing typical metazoan 37 genes: 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22tRNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and one noncoding AT-rich region. All the 13 PCGs initiated with ATN, except for COI gene which is started by CGA codon. Nine PCGs use the complete termination codon (TAA), whereas the COI, COII, ND4 and ND5 genes end with single T. A total of 132 bp intergenic spacers and a total of 37 bp overlapping sequences are interspersed throughout the whole genome. The two rRNA genes (rrnL and rrnS) are 1352 bp and 779 bp in size, with their AT contents of 84.6% and 85.5%, respectively. All tRNA genes display typical secondary cloverleaf structures except for trnS1 (AGN) which loses DHU arm. The 438 bp long AT-rich region contains several features common to the other lepidopterans, such as the ATAGA motif followed by a 18 bp poly-T stretch, a 9 bp poly-T stretch, a 10 bp poly-A stretch and some microsatellite-like (AT)n elements.

Keywords: Danainae; mitochondrial genome; nymphalidae; tirumala limniace.