Organization and Variation of the Mitochondrial Control Region in Two Vulture Species, Gypaetus barbatus and Neophron percnopterus

We report the first entire mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences in two endangered vulture species, the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Results showed that the general organization of vulture control regions was very similar to other...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of heredity 2004-07, Vol.95 (4), p.332-337
Main Authors: Roques, S., Godoy, J. A., Negro, J. J., Hiraldo, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Base Composition
Base Sequence
Biodiversity
Birds
Birds - genetics
DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics
Europe
Genetic Variation
Gypaetus barbatus
Locus Control Region - genetics
Molecular Sequence Data
Neophron percnopterus
Population genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Species Specificity
Tandem Repeat Sequences - genetics
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Summary:We report the first entire mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences in two endangered vulture species, the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Results showed that the general organization of vulture control regions was very similar to other birds, with three distinct domains: a left variable domain (DI), a central conserved one (DII) including the F, E, D, and C boxes, and a right domain (DIII) containing the CSB1 sequence. However, due to the presence of long tandem repeats, vulture control regions differed from other avian control regions both in size and nucleotide composition. The Egyptian vulture control region was found to be the largest sequenced so far (2031 bp), due to the simultaneous presence of repeats in both DI (80 bp) and DIII (77 bp). Low variation was found in vulture control regions, particularly in G. barbatus, as the probable result of populations declines in the last few centuries.
ISSN:0022-1503
1465-7333
DOI:10.1093/jhered/esh047