Association between mutations of mitochondrial DNA genes for citochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase 5/6 in sable Martes zibellina L.

RFLP analysis of amplified genes for cytochrome b and NADP dehydrogenase 5/ 6 of sable mtDNA was carried out. Polymorphism was recorded in the first an d the second fragment using six and four enzymes, respectively. This allowe d us to identify seven mtDNA haplotypes forming two clusters, A1-A3 and B1- C2. The divergence between the clusters was 0.0112-0.0164. An association b etween mutations of genes for cytochrome b and NADP dehydrogenase 5/6 was e stablished. This association can be explained by high mutability of the fra gments containing the associated mutations.