Sequence organization of the mitochondrial genome of yeast — a review

Abstract

We have compiled the available primary structural data for the mitochondrial genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and have estimated the size of the remaining gaps, which represent 12–13% of the genome. The lengths of sequenced regions and of gaps lead to a new assessment of genome sizes; these range (in round figures) from 85 000 bp for the long genomes, to 78 000 bp for the short genomes, to 74 000 bp for the supershort genome of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis. These values are 8–11 % higher than those previously estimated from restriction fragments. Interstrain differences concern not only facultative intervening sequences (introns) and mini-inserts, but also insertions/deletions in intergenic sequences. The primary structure appears to be extremely conserved in genes and orion sequences, and highly conserved in intergenic sequences. Since coding sequences represent at most 33–35% of the genome, at least two thirds of the genome are formed by noncoding and yet highly conserved sequences. The G + C level of genes or exons is 25%, and that of intronic open reading frames (ORFs) 22%; increasingly lower values are shown by intronic closed reading frames (CRFs), 20%, ori sequences, 19%, intergenic ORFs, 17.5% and intergenic sequences, 15%.