ND6NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6

ND6 is a membrane subunit of Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase). In vertebrates it is the only protein-coding gene on the opposite strand to the other twelve, so its strand-specific base composition (GC and AT skew) differs from theirs.

Median length

522 bp

Range 435–600 bp

Median GC content

44.4%

Middle half 38.2%–47.7%

Species with data

2,333

Of 2,335 genomes

Strand

− strand

In 2,244 of 2,333 genomes

ND6 in the mitochondrial genome of

Human Homo sapiens

RefSeq NC_012920.1 · 16,569 bp · GC 44.4% · ND6 at 14,149–14,673, 525 bp, − strand · Species page

ND6Protein-coding gene

NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6

Position: 14,149–14,673
Length: 525 bp
Strand: −
GC content: 42.7%

ND6 across all species

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).

GC content of ND6 across classes

2,333 species, reference strand as deposited in RefSeq

Mammalsn 627 · median 37.7% · middle half 36.0%–39.3%

Birdsn 422 · median 48.3% · middle half 46.9%–50.1%

Ray-finned fishesn 894 · median 46.8% · middle half 45.0%–48.7%

Reptilesn 136 · median 39.4% · middle half 37.7%–43.0%

Sharks and raysn 87 · median 38.3% · middle half 37.6%–39.4%

Amphibiansn 47 · median 40.5% · middle half 34.8%–43.1%

Other classesn 120 · median 32.1% · middle half 28.2%–37.6%

Each dot is one species. Boxes span the middle half of the species (25th to 75th percentile) and the thick line marks the median; thin lines run from the lowest to the highest value.

Compare ND6 across taxa

GC content of ND6 against lifespan

One point per species, coloured by class

Hover or tap a point to see the species; select it again to open its page. Legend buttons spotlight a class.

Open in the plot

Correlation with maximum lifespan

All species, each class and each order with enough species

MeasureGC%LengthGC skewAT skew

GC content of ND6 against log₁₀ maximum lifespan in 32 groups; 6 pass q < 0.05. Plot it in the explorer

Correlation of GC content of ND6 with log10 maximum lifespan by group
Group	n	Pearson r	Spearman ρ	q	PIC r	Partial r
All speciesevery class	2,200	+0.03	−0.06	0.24	−0.07	+0.27
Ray-finned fishesclass Actinopterygii	826	+0.02	−0.00	0.62	−0.18	+0.00
Mammalsclass Mammalia	615	+0.34	+0.31	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.10	+0.41
Birdsclass Aves	404	+0.10	+0.09	0.11	+0.03	+0.07
Reptilesclass Reptilia	126	+0.18	+0.23	0.16	−0.02	+0.09
Sharks and raysclass Chondrichthyes	82	+0.20	+0.19	0.97	+0.25	−0.07
Amphibiansclass Amphibia	44	+0.03	+0.01	1.00	+0.11	–
Bivalvesclass Bivalvia	35	−0.36	−0.37	0.58	−0.06	–
Perciformesorder	207	+0.09	+0.08	0.33	+0.03	+0.14
Passeriformesorder	140	−0.22	−0.22	0.047 (significant)	−0.05	−0.08
Artiodactylaorder	134	+0.50	+0.40	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.11	+0.23
Cypriniformesorder	127	+0.01	−0.02	0.93	+0.06	+0.39
Carnivoraorder	123	+0.25	+0.27	0.018 (significant)	+0.21	+0.18
Primatesorder	112	+0.39	+0.37	< 0.001 (significant)	−0.01	+0.23
Rodentiaorder	87	−0.03	−0.02	0.83	+0.15	+0.04
Squamataorder	60	+0.06	+0.09	0.90	+0.05	+0.17
Charadriiformesorder	51	+0.40	+0.43	0.046 (significant)	−0.02	+0.33
Testudinesorder	49	+0.24	+0.17	0.60	+0.02	+0.12
Chiropteraorder	43	+0.08	+0.01	0.90	+0.26	+0.05
Psittaciformesorder	43	−0.05	−0.06	0.89	+0.01	−0.01
Clupeiformesorder	38	−0.05	−0.01	0.98	+0.32	–
Pleuronectiformesorder	35	+0.14	+0.01	0.70	+0.07	+0.17
Salmoniformesorder	35	+0.16	+0.07	0.70	+0.28	+0.30
Carcharhiniformesorder	31	+0.17	+0.13	0.67	+0.08	+0.34
Cetaceaorder	28	−0.27	+0.09	0.40	−0.30	−0.47
Anseriformesorder	25	+0.04	+0.06	0.91	+0.23	+0.12
Caudataorder	25	+0.10	−0.00	0.89	+0.14	–
Siluriformesorder	24	+0.27	+0.20	0.42	+0.24	–
Centrarchiformesorder	22	+0.30	+0.08	0.39	−0.07	–
Acipenseriformesorder	21	+0.00	−0.09	0.99	−0.02	−0.46
Rajiformesorder	21	−0.11	+0.08	0.90	+0.36	–
Scombriformesorder	21	+0.07	−0.06	0.97	+0.01	–

Length of ND6 against log₁₀ maximum lifespan in 28 groups; 6 pass q < 0.05. Plot it in the explorer

Correlation of Length of ND6 with log10 maximum lifespan by group
Group	n	Pearson r	Spearman ρ	q	PIC r	Partial r
All speciesevery class	2,200	+0.18	+0.24	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.01	+0.00
Ray-finned fishesclass Actinopterygii	826	+0.01	−0.01	0.89	+0.01	−0.00
Mammalsclass Mammalia	615	+0.24	+0.17	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.12	+0.20
Birdsclass Aves	404	+0.03	+0.16	0.64	−0.04	−0.13
Reptilesclass Reptilia	126	+0.41	+0.43	< 0.001 (significant)	−0.08	+0.37
Sharks and raysclass Chondrichthyes	82	+0.14	+0.14	1.00	−0.03	−0.05
Amphibiansclass Amphibia	44	−0.08	−0.04	1.00	+0.06	–
Bivalvesclass Bivalvia	35	+0.08	+0.03	0.93	+0.16	–
Perciformesorder	207	−0.02	−0.01	0.85	−0.03	−0.09
Passeriformesorder	140	+0.29	+0.35	0.012 (significant)	+0.04	+0.03
Artiodactylaorder	134	+0.09	+0.12	0.41	+0.15	+0.16
Cypriniformesorder	127	−0.11	−0.08	0.40	−0.05	−0.23
Carnivoraorder	123	−0.37	−0.35	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.13	−0.13
Primatesorder	112	−0.14	−0.20	0.19	+0.01	+0.10
Rodentiaorder	87	+0.47	+0.54	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.26	+0.40
Squamataorder	60	+0.19	+0.23	0.63	−0.08	+0.34
Charadriiformesorder	51	−0.12	−0.14	0.71	−0.03	−0.11
Testudinesorder	49	−0.06	+0.03	0.94	−0.12	−0.16
Chiropteraorder	43	+0.17	+0.18	0.90	+0.49	+0.15
Psittaciformesorder	43	+0.26	+0.29	0.26	+0.06	+0.20
Clupeiformesorder	38	+0.26	+0.09	0.58	+0.02	–
Pleuronectiformesorder	35	+0.05	+0.03	0.88	+0.05	−0.54
Carcharhiniformesorder	31	−0.25	−0.25	0.52	−0.13	–
Cetaceaorder	28	+0.23	+0.27	0.50	+0.35	+0.14
Anseriformesorder	25	+0.23	+0.15	0.60	+0.14	+0.20
Caudataorder	25	−0.30	−0.15	0.79	−0.13	–
Siluriformesorder	24	+0.26	+0.30	0.43	+0.20	–
Acipenseriformesorder	21	−0.19	−0.30	0.65	−0.10	−0.45

GC skew of ND6 against log₁₀ maximum lifespan in 32 groups; 8 pass q < 0.05. Plot it in the explorer

Correlation of GC skew of ND6 with log10 maximum lifespan by group
Group	n	Pearson r	Spearman ρ	q	PIC r	Partial r
All speciesevery class	2,200	−0.23	−0.28	< 0.001 (significant)	−0.10	−0.03
Ray-finned fishesclass Actinopterygii	826	−0.13	−0.15	< 0.001 (significant)	−0.15	+0.07
Mammalsclass Mammalia	615	−0.15	−0.19	< 0.001 (significant)	−0.05	−0.11
Birdsclass Aves	404	+0.31	+0.32	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.08	+0.23
Reptilesclass Reptilia	126	+0.12	+0.10	0.38	−0.02	+0.28
Sharks and raysclass Chondrichthyes	82	−0.06	−0.14	1.00	+0.15	+0.28
Amphibiansclass Amphibia	44	+0.16	+0.20	1.00	+0.27	–
Bivalvesclass Bivalvia	35	+0.21	+0.29	0.75	+0.14	–
Perciformesorder	207	−0.07	−0.05	0.49	−0.01	+0.23
Passeriformesorder	140	+0.29	+0.31	0.012 (significant)	+0.09	−0.07
Artiodactylaorder	134	−0.04	−0.00	0.75	−0.13	−0.04
Cypriniformesorder	127	+0.00	+0.00	0.96	−0.06	+0.39
Carnivoraorder	123	−0.03	−0.06	0.88	+0.08	−0.01
Primatesorder	112	−0.42	−0.44	< 0.001 (significant)	−0.00	−0.05
Rodentiaorder	87	−0.07	−0.16	0.65	−0.12	−0.16
Squamataorder	60	+0.25	+0.09	0.41	+0.10	+0.45
Charadriiformesorder	51	+0.44	+0.39	0.040 (significant)	+0.20	+0.18
Testudinesorder	49	−0.20	−0.22	0.61	−0.34	−0.11
Chiropteraorder	43	+0.10	+0.11	0.90	+0.01	+0.13
Psittaciformesorder	43	+0.36	+0.30	0.088	+0.22	+0.26
Clupeiformesorder	38	−0.05	−0.03	0.98	+0.04	–
Pleuronectiformesorder	35	−0.14	−0.10	0.70	−0.03	+0.01
Salmoniformesorder	35	+0.21	+0.14	0.62	+0.18	+0.38
Carcharhiniformesorder	31	−0.20	−0.22	0.61	−0.06	+0.34
Cetaceaorder	28	−0.41	−0.50	0.14	−0.34	−0.01
Anseriformesorder	25	−0.29	−0.25	0.45	+0.11	−0.16
Caudataorder	25	+0.22	+0.25	0.79	+0.40	–
Siluriformesorder	24	−0.05	−0.10	0.89	−0.14	–
Centrarchiformesorder	22	−0.42	−0.30	0.23	−0.26	–
Acipenseriformesorder	21	−0.63	−0.08	0.014 (significant)	−0.71	−0.42
Rajiformesorder	21	+0.22	+0.25	0.90	+0.18	–
Scombriformesorder	21	−0.51	−0.58	0.31	−0.44	–

AT skew of ND6 against log₁₀ maximum lifespan in 32 groups; 8 pass q < 0.05. Plot it in the explorer

Correlation of AT skew of ND6 with log10 maximum lifespan by group
Group	n	Pearson r	Spearman ρ	q	PIC r	Partial r
All speciesevery class	2,200	+0.19	+0.12	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.09	+0.27
Ray-finned fishesclass Actinopterygii	826	+0.21	+0.23	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.13	+0.05
Mammalsclass Mammalia	615	+0.23	+0.25	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.08	+0.21
Birdsclass Aves	404	+0.07	+0.09	0.30	−0.10	+0.06
Reptilesclass Reptilia	126	−0.15	−0.10	0.27	−0.00	−0.19
Sharks and raysclass Chondrichthyes	82	+0.01	+0.01	1.00	−0.20	−0.20
Amphibiansclass Amphibia	44	−0.11	−0.09	1.00	−0.35	–
Bivalvesclass Bivalvia	35	+0.15	+0.25	0.84	+0.04	–
Perciformesorder	207	+0.11	+0.10	0.21	+0.02	+0.04
Passeriformesorder	140	−0.29	−0.26	0.012 (significant)	−0.11	+0.07
Artiodactylaorder	134	+0.16	+0.11	0.12	+0.17	+0.07
Cypriniformesorder	127	+0.37	+0.38	< 0.001 (significant)	+0.09	−0.39
Carnivoraorder	123	+0.19	+0.15	0.094	+0.08	+0.25
Primatesorder	112	+0.17	+0.25	0.10	−0.07	+0.02
Rodentiaorder	87	−0.22	−0.27	0.12	+0.17	−0.08
Squamataorder	60	−0.30	−0.16	0.30	−0.03	−0.41
Charadriiformesorder	51	+0.01	+0.13	0.95	−0.13	+0.12
Testudinesorder	49	+0.23	+0.19	0.60	+0.05	+0.11
Chiropteraorder	43	+0.23	+0.20	0.83	+0.29	+0.23
Psittaciformesorder	43	−0.50	−0.46	0.012 (significant)	−0.40	−0.42
Clupeiformesorder	38	+0.06	+0.14	0.98	+0.12	–
Pleuronectiformesorder	35	+0.18	+0.16	0.54	+0.03	−0.17
Salmoniformesorder	35	+0.14	+0.13	0.77	+0.12	+0.36
Carcharhiniformesorder	31	+0.09	+0.15	0.82	−0.05	−0.41
Cetaceaorder	28	−0.15	−0.00	0.68	−0.14	−0.37
Anseriformesorder	25	+0.05	−0.02	0.89	+0.10	+0.04
Caudataorder	25	−0.08	−0.02	0.89	−0.31	–
Siluriformesorder	24	+0.68	+0.61	0.011 (significant)	+0.46	–
Centrarchiformesorder	22	+0.19	0.00	0.60	−0.14	–
Acipenseriformesorder	21	+0.64	−0.11	0.013 (significant)	+0.71	+0.39
Rajiformesorder	21	−0.21	−0.34	0.90	−0.36	–
Scombriformesorder	21	+0.08	+0.14	0.96	+0.25	–

n: species with both values in the group.
Pearson r, Spearman ρ: strength of the link with log₁₀ lifespan, from −1 to +1; Spearman uses ranks, so a few extreme species weigh less.
q: p-value adjusted for testing every mtDNA feature in the same group (Benjamini–Hochberg); rows with q < 0.05 are highlighted.
PIC r: the same test on phylogenetically independent contrasts, which removes similarity that comes from shared ancestry.
Partial r: the link with lifespan after accounting for body mass (log₁₀ adult weight), since bigger animals tend to live longer.

ND6 aligned across species

2,314 species, 484 columns; 165 columns have a residue in at least half of the species, and in 29 of those one residue is in 90% or more. MAFFT v7.526, FFT-NS-2 (progressive)

Loading the alignment of ND6: 2,314 species, 484 columns.

All alignment files

Codon usage of ND6

Vertebrates, vertebrate mitochondrial code

Most used codons

Share of all 385,842 sense codons of ND6 in 2,229 vertebrates

GGGGly7.2%
GUUVal6.3%
UUUPhe6.0%
UUALeu5.6%
UUGLeu5.4%
GUGVal5.1%
GGUGly4.3%
UAUTyr4.0%

Preferred codon for each amino acid

Most used synonymous codon and its RSCU, pooled by class; darker cells show a stronger preference

Preferred codon and RSCU for each amino acid in ND6, by class
Amino acid	All vertebratesn 2,229	Mammalsn 627	Birdsn 422	Ray-finned fishesn 894	Reptilesn 136	Sharks and raysn 87	Amphibiansn 47
PheF · 2 codons	UUU1.81	UUU1.88	UUU1.86	UUU1.67	UUU1.92	UUU1.95	UUU1.85
LeuL · 6 codons	UUA2.22	UUA2.85	UUG2.96	UUA2.12	UUG2.68	UUA3.26	UUA3.12
IleI · 2 codons	AUU1.85	AUU1.89	AUU1.92	AUU1.73	AUU1.87	AUU1.92	AUU1.89
MetM · 2 codons	AUG1.33	AUG1.26	AUG1.64	AUG1.34	AUG1.32	AUG1.02	AUA1.19
ValV · 4 codons	GUU1.67	GUU1.77	GUU1.76	GUU1.48	GUU1.95	GUU1.67	GUU1.80
SerS · 6 codons	UCU2.41	AGU2.27	UCU2.75	UCU2.38	UCU2.56	UCU2.76	UCU2.88
ProP · 4 codons	CCU2.42	CCU3.18	CCU2.30	CCU2.09	CCU2.39	CCU2.91	CCU2.05
ThrT · 4 codons	ACU2.16	ACU2.15	ACU2.68	ACU1.99	ACU1.91	ACU2.70	ACU2.61
AlaA · 4 codons	GCU1.84	GCU2.36	GCG1.48	GCU1.76	GCU1.96	GCU2.25	GCU2.07
TyrY · 2 codons	UAU1.62	UAU1.71	UAU1.71	UAU1.43	UAU1.82	UAU1.80	UAU1.78
HisH · 2 codons	CAU1.59	CAU1.77	CAU1.60	CAU1.53	CAU1.78	CAU1.87	CAU1.57
GlnQ · 2 codons	CAG1.33	CAG1.28	CAG1.74	CAG1.28	CAG1.22	CAG2.00	CAG1.27
AsnN · 2 codons	AAU1.66	AAU1.86	AAU1.59	AAU1.28	AAU1.78	AAU1.84	AAU1.64
LysK · 2 codons	AAG1.29	AAG1.29	AAG1.79	AAG1.11	AAG1.44	AAG1.01	AAG1.21
AspD · 2 codons	GAU1.74	GAU1.81	GAU1.76	GAU1.60	GAU1.84	GAU1.93	GAU1.81
GluE · 2 codons	GAG1.45	GAG1.41	GAG1.59	GAG1.48	GAG1.47	GAG1.30	GAG1.33
CysC · 2 codons	UGU1.73	UGU1.79	UGU1.59	UGU1.68	UGU1.87	UGU1.98	UGU1.85
TrpW · 2 codons	UGG1.11	UGG1.07	UGG1.30	UGG1.06	UGG1.26	UGA1.11	UGG1.03
ArgR · 4 codons	CGG1.91	CGU2.55	CGG2.74	CGG1.91	CGU2.50	CGU1.96	CGU1.83
GlyG · 4 codons	GGG1.96	GGU1.70	GGG2.53	GGG2.11	GGG1.79	GGU1.68	GGG1.86

RSCU (relative synonymous codon usage) compares a codon with even use of all codons for its amino acid: 1 means no preference, and the maximum equals the number of synonymous codons. Counts are summed over vertebrate species and read with the vertebrate mitochondrial code (NCBI table 2); other animals use different codes and are left out.