Genes
Genes of the mitochondrial genome
Animal mtDNA is a small circle with 37 genes and one control region. Pick a gene to compare its length, base composition and codon usage across 2,335 species, and to see how it relates to lifespan.
- 13protein-coding genes
- 2ribosomal RNAs
- 22transfer RNAs
- 1control region
The mitochondrial genome of
Human Homo sapiens
RefSeq NC_012920.1 · 16,569 bp · GC 44.4% · Species page
Hover, tap or tab to a feature to see its position, length, strand and GC content. Genes and rRNAs open their own pages.
- Protein-coding13
- rRNA2
- tRNA22
- D-loop1
- Outer ring: + strand, arrows run clockwise. Inner ring: − strand.
- Middle ring: GC% of each gene against the whole genome (44.4%, dashed): out is GC-richer, in is AT-richer (full height = 6 points).
NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase
The first and largest enzyme of the respiratory chain: it passes electrons from NADH to ubiquinone and pumps protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Seven of its core membrane subunits are encoded by mtDNA.
- ND1+ strandNADH dehydrogenase subunit 1
- Median length
- 975 bp
- Median GC
- 44.5%
- ND2+ strandNADH dehydrogenase subunit 2
- Median length
- 1,042 bp
- Median GC
- 43.1%
- ND3+ strandNADH dehydrogenase subunit 3
- Median length
- 349 bp
- Median GC
- 43.8%
- ND4L+ strandNADH dehydrogenase subunit 4L
- Median length
- 297 bp
- Median GC
- 45.5%
- ND4+ strandNADH dehydrogenase subunit 4
- Median length
- 1,378 bp
- Median GC
- 43.2%
- ND5+ strandNADH dehydrogenase subunit 5
- Median length
- 1,821 bp
- Median GC
- 42.8%
- ND6− strandNADH dehydrogenase subunit 6
- Median length
- 522 bp
- Median GC
- 44.4%
Cytochrome bc1 complex
Passes electrons from ubiquinol to cytochrome c while pumping protons. Its one mtDNA-encoded subunit is cytochrome b.
Cytochrome c oxidase
The last enzyme of the respiratory chain, which reduces oxygen to water. Its three catalytic core subunits are encoded by mtDNA.
ATP synthase
Uses the proton gradient built by complexes I, III and IV to make ATP. Two of its membrane subunits are encoded by mtDNA.
Mitochondrial ribosome
The two rRNAs form the core of the mitochondrial ribosome, which translates the 13 mtDNA-encoded proteins.
Non-coding control region
The main non-coding region of the molecule, which regulates replication and transcription.
22 tRNA genes
Each tRNA carries one amino acid to the mitochondrial ribosome. They have no pages of their own; every genome map shows them with their one-letter codes.
- FPhe+
- VVal+
- L1Leu (UUR)+
- IIle+
- QGln−
- MMet+
- WTrp+
- AAla−
- NAsn−
- CCys−
- YTyr−
- S1Ser (UCN)−
- DAsp+
- KLys+
- GGly+
- RArg+
- HHis+
- S2Ser (AGY)+
- L2Leu (CUN)+
- EGlu−
- TThr+
- PPro−
In the human genome, from the origin; + and − give the strand.
Medians are across all species with data for the gene. The bar on each card shows where the gene lies in the human genome, which starts at the top of the map and runs clockwise.