Cloning of the replication origin from [formula omitted] mitochondrial DNA

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA from Drosophila contains high “A+T”-rich region. Its DNA replication starts in the “A+T”-rich region and proceeds unidirectionally around the molecule. In order to determine precise location of the DNA replication origin and elucidate unique feature of its nucleotide sequence, the “A+T”-rich region of mitochondrial DNA from Drosophila virilis has been cloned in Escherichia coli . The chimeric plasmid DNA containing the “A+T”-rich region stimulates in vitro DNA replication system from Drosophila virilis mitochondria about ten fold higher than the parental plasmid DNA, as does native mitochondrial DNA.