THE COMPLETE MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA SEQUENCE OF THE RABBIT, ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS

The nucleotide sequence of the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mole cule of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, order Lagomorpha) was deter mined. The length of the molecule is 17,245 nt, but the length is not absolute due to the presence of different numbers of repeated motifs i n the control region, The organization and gene contents of the mtDNA of the rabbit conform to those of other eutherian species. The putativ e secondary structures of the tRNAs of the rabbit have been described. These structures as well as the structure of the L-strand origin of r eplication comply with those characteristic for eutherians in general, The compositional differences between the two mtDNA strands have also been detailed. (C) 1998 Academic Press.