ABSTRACT
The complete DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genomes of two crinoids (Gymnocrinus richeri and Phanogenia sp.) have been completed. The mitochondrial genomes are closed circular DNA molecules containing the genes for 22 tRNAs, large and small subunit ribosomal RNAs, and 13 proteins. The Gymnocrinus genome is 15892 nt in length and the Phanogenia mtDNA is 15969 nt in length. The Phanogenia genetic map is the same as that reported for Florometra serratissima (Scouras and Smith: 2001). Gymnocrinus mitochondrial genetic map varies from that of Florometra and Phanogenia. The ND4L gene of Gymnocrinus is located between the ATPase6 and COIII genes. In Florometra and Phanogenia, the ND4L is located between the COI and COII genes, a position that is conserved in other sequenced echinoderm mitochondrial genomes. Other than the ND4L rearrangement, the gene order in these three crinoid mitochondria is conserved.
