Abstract
The complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome of Lactuca sativa (lettuce) has been determined. The chloroplast was isolated from 1-month-old seedlings by two stepwise percoll density gradient centrifugation. The Chloroplast DNA was extracted with CTAB and randomly cloned for DNA sequencing. Sequencing of the 5,000 individual clones by shotgun method covered the whole lettuce chloroplast genome. The chloroplast genome of lettuce is a circular double-stranded DNA of 152,765 bp. Two inverted repeat regions are separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 84,103 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,595 bp. We have identified 121 genes including 80 potential-protein coding genes, 4 rRNA genes and 37 tRNA genes based on previously reported chloroplast genes. The gene content of total 80 potential-protein encoding genes in lettuce (compositae) chloroplast genome is identical with the chloroplast DNA of the different species tobacco (solanaceae). Supported by KEIHANNA/MEXT.
