The complete mitochondrial genome organization of Schizothorax Plagiostomus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Northern Pakistan.

Schizothorax plagiostomus, a fresh water fish, is an economically important fish of Pakistan. In this study, the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of S. plagiostomus was explored. The mitogenome length was found to be 16 563bp with 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and 2 non-coding regions: origin of light-strand replication (OL) and control region (D-loop). All genes were encoded on the heavy strand except ND6 and few tRNA genes. The overall base composition of S. plagiostomus of the heavy strand was T 25.5%, C 27.0%, A 29.8% and G 17.8%, A + T content 55.3% and G + C content 44.7%. The phylogenetic tree suggests that S. esocinus, S. progastus, S. richardsonii and S. plagiostomus may have closer affinities than other fish of the genus Schizothorax. This mitogenome sequence would be useful for phylogenetic analysis and conservation of this species in Pakistan.

The mitochondrial genome of Schizothorax esocinus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Northern Pakistan.

The mitochondrial DNA sequence represents a mainstay of phylogenetics. It allows biologists to elucidate the evolutionary relationships among species. It also permits an examination of the relatedness of populations, hence got importance in the field of biology. The current study was designed to know the mitochondrial sequence of Schizothorax esocinus, a delicious fish belonging to family Cyprinidae. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of S. esocinus from Northern Pakistan was determined. The mitogenome of S. esocinus was found to be 16 591 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one control region. All genes were encoded on heavy strain except ND6 and few tRNA genes. The overall base composition was T 25.5%, C 27.0%, A 29.8% and G 17.7%, A + T content 55.3% and G + C content 47.7%. The length of control region (CR) was 938 bp and contained putative termination-associated sequence (TAS) and several conserved sequence blocks (CSB) and control region also contained a microsatellite region (TA). This is the very first study reported from a reservoir of large cold water bodies in Pakistan which have a great potential for conservation of cold water fish species. This mitogenome sequence would be useful to know the phylogenetic status of the fish.