HUMAN MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA-LIKE SEQUENCES - PECULIARITIES OF EVOLUTION

Mitochondrial-like sequences and their homologues from primate mitocho ndria are investigated to define direction and rate of evolution, time of integration into nuclear genome. The analysis showed that mito-lik e sequences differ from mitochondrial homologues by high level of symm etria of two chains of DNA. Besides that, difference between mito-like and Homo sapiens sequences in their GC-contents is found. Apparently there is GC-pressure of nuclear genome region, being the place of inte gration of mito-like sequence, that brings about equalization of GC-co ntents in nuckear region and mito-like sequences. Properties of descen t mitochondrial sequence play important role in the difference of mito -like and Homo sapiens sequences also.