The complete mitochondrial genome of the drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus)

Abstract

The drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) is a primate of the family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys). Drills are among Africa’s most endangered mammals, and are listed by the IUCN as the highest conservation priority of all African primates and are used as a model for cytomegalovirus vaccine and antiviral development. Here, we describe the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of M. leucophaeus. The genome is 16 547 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs and a major non-coding region. The gene content and order is in accord with the common vertebrate form. All PCGs share the start codon ATG except ND2(ATC), ND3(ATT) and ND5(ATA). ND1, ND2 and ATP8 use ATG as the end codon. COX1, COX2, ATP6, ND4L and ND5 employ ATT as the end codon. The other five PCGs share the end codon T––. Phylogenic tree was constructed based on the complete mitogenome of M. leucophaeus and 12 closely related species to estimate their phylogenic relationship. We present an important genetic resource for the family Cercopithecidae in general