MtDNA_control_region
mtDNA control region
Non-coding region of the mitochondrial DNA
The mtDNA control region is an area of the mitochondrial genome which is non-coding DNA. This region controls RNA and DNA synthesis.[1] It is the most polymorphic region of the human mtDNA genome,[2] with polymorphism concentrated in hypervariable regions. The average nucleotide diversity in these regions is 1.7%.[3] Despite this variability, an RNA transcript from this region has a conserved secondary structure (pictured) which has been found to be under selective pressure.[4]
The mtDNA control region contains the origin of replication of one strand, and the origin of transcription for both strands.[5] There is also an open reading frame thought to code for 7s ribosomal RNA in humans but not in mice or cows, where it has been deleted.[6]