Invertebrate mitochondrial code

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Invertebrate mitochondrial code (translation table 5) is the genetic code used by the mitochondria of invertebrates. Mitochondria contain their own DNA and replicate independently from the cell’s main DNA.

In some invertebrates, especially arthropods, the mitochondrial code can differ from the standard code. Certain codons map to different amino acids, so proteins made in mitochondria can be built a little differently. These variations help scientists study the evolutionary relationships among invertebrates, including flatworms.

Bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T) or uracil (U).

Amino acids (with common three-letter and one-letter codes):
Alanine (Ala, A), Arginine (Arg, R), Asparagine (Asn, N), Aspartic acid (Asp, D), Cysteine (Cys, C), Glutamic acid (Glu, E), Glutamine (Gln, Q), Glycine (Gly, G), Histidine (His, H), Isoleucine (Ile, I), Leucine (Leu, L), Lysine (Lys, K), Methionine (Met, M), Phenylalanine (Phe, F), Proline (Pro, P), Serine (Ser, S), Threonine (Thr, T), Tryptophan (Trp, W), Tyrosine (Tyr, Y), Valine (Val, V).

Note: The codon AGG is absent in Drosophila.