Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides)

 We have identified, isolated, and characterized microsatellite/simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) by screening partial genomic libraries. We have also examined the compatibility and use of the P. tremuloides SSR primers to resolve microsatellites in other Populus species. Fourteen microsatellites were identified from 1600 clones screened. The TC/AG microsatellites were the most abundant. A total of 29 alleles were detected in 36 P. tremuloides individuals at the four SSR loci (two each of di- and tri-nucleotide repeats) characterized. The number of alleles at the SSR loci ranged from 5 to 11, with an average of 7.25 alleles per locus, and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.19 to 0.82, with a mean of 0.46 per locus. Although the highest polymorphism was observed for a dinucleotide SSR locus, the trinucleotide SSR loci showed substantial polymorphism. There were 34 unique multilocus genotypes among the 36 P. tremuloides individuals examined, and 89% of the individuals had unique multilocus genotypes. Two pairs of SSR primers were successful in PCR, amplifying genomic DNA and resolving microsatellites of comparable size from Populus deltoides, P. nigra, P.×canadensis, and P. maximowiczii. The microsatellite DNA markers developed could be used for clonal fingerprinting, certification of controlled crosses, genome mapping, marker-assisted early selection, genetic diversity assessments, and conservation and sustainable management of poplar genetic resources. Received: 14 November 1997 / Accepted: 17 November 1997     

Estimation of genetic distance and coefficient of gene diversity from single-probe multilocus DNA fingerprinting data

DNA fingerprinting exhibits multilocus genotypes of individuals, detected by the use of a single multilocus probe. Consequently, population data on DNA fingerprinting do not provide a complete characterization of the genetic variation in terms of allele-frequency distributions, since neither the number of loci nor the locus affiliation of alleles is directly observable. Yet DNA fingerprinting has been proved to be a cost-effective method of detecting hypervariable polymorphisms in several organisms, where the traditional loci fail to detect enough variation for microevolutionary studies. In the present paper we demonstrate that the above-mentioned features of DNA fingerprinting data do not cause any serious problem when they are used in evolutionary studies. Bias-corrected estimators of Nei's standard and minimum genetic distances are derived, and, by an application of this theory to data on seven short tandem repeat loci in three major human populations, it is shown that these modified measures of genetic distances based on DNA fingerprint patterns are quite close to Nei's distances based on locus-specific allele frequencies. Empirical as well as theoretical support of the adequacy of such genetic distances from DNA fingerprinting data is also discussed, and it indicates that the technical limitations of DNA fingerprinting should not deter the use of the method for short-term evolutionary studies.      

Estimation of heterozygosity for single-probe multilocus DNA fingerprints

In spite of the increasing application of DNA fingerprinting to natural populations and to the genetic identification of humans, explicit methods for estimation of basic population genetic parameters from DNA fingerprinting data have not been developed. Contributing to this omission is the inability to determine, for multilocus fingerprinting probes, relatively important genetic information, such as the number of loci, the number of alleles, and the distribution of these alleles into specific loci. One of the most useful genetic parameters that could be derived from such data would be the average heterozygosity, which has traditionally been employed to measure the level of genetic variation within populations and to compare genetic variation among different loci. We derive here explicit formulas for both the estimation of average heterozygosity at multiple hypervariable loci and a maximum value for this estimate. These estimates are based upon the DNA restriction-pattern matrices that are typical for fingerprinting studies of humans and natural populations. For several empirical data sets from our laboratory, estimates of average and maximal heterozygosity are shown to be relatively close to each other. Furthermore, variances of these statistics based on simulation studies are relatively small. These observations, as well as consideration of the effect of missing alleles and alternate numbers of loci, suggest that the average heterozygosity can be accurately estimated using phenotypic DNA fingerprint patterns, because this parameter is relatively insensitive to the lack of certain genetic information.      

Microsatellite DNA in fishes

For the last 30 years, attempts have been made to discriminate among fish populations by using molecular markers. Although some techniques have proved successful in certain circumstances, the consistent trend to newer markers among fishery geneticists highlights the general lack of resolving power observed with older technologies. The last decade has seen the increasing use of satellite DNA in investigations of genetic variability and divergence. Applications to fish and fisheries-related issues initially concentrated on minisatellite single-locus probes. Although minisatellites have successfully addressed a number of fishery-related questions, this class of satellite DNA has not been widely adopted by fishery geneticists. Most of the current research effort is concentrated on another class of satellite DNA called microsatellites. The large interest in microsatellite loci is largely due to the very high levels of variability that have been observed and the ability to investigate this variation using PCR technology. The isolation and application of microsatellites to research fields as diverse as population genetics, parentage analyses and genome mapping are reviewed. Despite the undisputed advantages that the marker possesses, there are a number of potential problems associated with investigating variation at microsatellite loci. Statistical considerations (e.g. appropriate sample sizes, number of loci and the mutation model assumptions on which the estimate is based) have not been considered in detail yet and the problems are often exacerbated in fish species, as some species show very large numbers of alleles at microsatellite loci. These issues and others, e.g. null alleles, are reviewed and possible solutions are proposed     

Microsatellite DNA fingerprinting, differentiation, and genetic relationships of clones, cultivars, and varieties of six poplar species from three sections of the genus Populus.

Accurate identification of Populus clones and cultivars is essential for effective selection, breeding, and genetic resource management programs. The unit of cultivation and breeding in poplars is a clone, and individual cultivars are normally represented by a single clone. Microsatellite DNA markers of 10 simple sequence repeat loci were used for genetic fingerprinting and differentiation of 96 clones/cultivars and varieties belonging to six Populus species (P. deltoides, P. nigra, P. balsamifera, P. trichocarpa, P. grandidentata, and P maximowiczii) from three sections of the genus. All 96 clones/cultivars could be uniquely fingerprinted based on their single- or multilocus microsatellite genotypes. The five P. grandidentata clones could be differentiated based on their single-locus genotypes, while six clones of P. trichocarpa and 11 clones of P. maximowiczii could be identified by their two-locus genotypes. Twenty clones of P. deltoides and 25 clones of P. nigra could be differentiated by their multilocus genotypes employing three loci, and 29 clones of P. balsamifera required the use of multilocus genotypes at five loci for their genetic fingerprinting and differentiation. The loci PTR3, PTR5, and PTR7 were found to be the most informative for genetic fingerprinting and differentiation of the clones. The mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 2.9 in P. trichocarpa or P. grandidentata to 6.0 in P. balsamifera and 11.2 in 96 clones of the six species. The mean number of observed genotypes per locus ranged from 2.4 in P. grandidentata to 7.4 in P. balsamifera and 19.6 in 96 clones of the six species. The mean number of unique genotypes per locus ranged from 1.3 in P. grandidentata to 3.9 in P. deltoides and 8.8 in 96 clones of the six species. The power of discrimination of the microsatellite DNA markers in the 96 clones ranged from 0.726 for PTR4 to 0.939 for PTR7, with a mean of 0.832 over the 10 simple sequence repeat loci. Clones/cultivars from the same species showed higher microsatellite DNA similarities than the clones from the different species. A UPGMA cluster plot constructed from the microsatellite genotypic similarities separated the 96 clones into six major groups corresponding to their species. Populus nigra var. italica clones were genetically differentiated from the P. nigra var. nigra clones. Microsatellite DNA markers could be useful in genetic fingerprinting, identification, classification, certification, and registration of clones, clultivars, and varieties as well as genetic resource management and protection of plant breeders' rights in Populus.     

Heterologous nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite amplification and variation in tea, Camellia sinensis.

The advantage of the cross transferability of heterologous chloroplast and nuclear microsatellite primers was taken to detect polymorphism among 24 tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) genotypes, including both the assamica and the sinensis varieties. Primer information was obtained from the closely related Camellia japonica species for four nuclear microsatellites, and from Nicotiana tabaccum for seven universal chloroplast microsatellites. All of the nuclear microsatellite loci tested generated an expected DNA fragment in tea, revealing between three and five alleles per locus. Four out of the seven chloroplast microsatellites primers amplified positively, and of these only one was polymorphic with three alleles, which is in agreement with the conserved nature of chloroplast microsatellites at the intraspecific level. A factorial correspondence analysis carried out on all genotypes and nuclear microsatellite alleles separated the assamica and sinensis genotypes into two groups, thus demonstrating the value of these markers in establishing the genetic relationship between tea varieties. Genetic diversity measured with nuclear microsatellites was higher than that measured with other types of molecular markers, offering prospects for their use in fingerprinting, mapping, and population genetic studies, whereas polymorphisms detected at a cpSSR locus will allow the determination of plastid inheritance in the species.     

RAPD identification of microsatellites in Daphnia

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs, or microsatellites) have been constantly gaining importance as single-locus DNA markers in population genetics and behavioural ecology. We tested a PCR-based strategy for finding microsatellite loci in anonymous genomes, which avoids genomic library construction and screening, and the need for larger amounts of DNA. In the first step, parts of a genome are randomly amplified with arbitrary 10mer primers using RAPD fingerprinting. Labelled SSR-oligonucleotides serve as probes to detect complementary sequences in RAPD products by means of Southern analyses. Subsequently, positive RAPD fragments of suitable size are cloned and sequenced. Using GA and GT probes, we applied this approach to waterfleas ( Daphnia ) and revealed 37 hybridization signals in 20 RAPD profiles. Thirteen positive RAPD fragments from three Daphnia species and two hybrid 'species' were cloned and sequenced. In all cases simple sequence repeats were detected. We characterized seven perfect repeat loci, which were found to be polymorphic within and between species.     

微卫星标记及其在蚜虫种群生物学研究中的应用

微卫星（SSR）是以1～6个碱基为重复单位组成的简单串联重复序列,具有丰度高、多态性高、共显性遗传、选择中性和可重复性好等优点。微卫星标记技术可分为三种类型：基于杂交的SSR指纹,基于PCR的SSR指纹和单位点SSR的PCR扩增。前两者不需要知道基因组序列信息,属于多位点标记;后者则需要前期工作,属于单位点标记,即通常所指的微卫星标记。到目前为止,共在14种蚜中筛选到141个微卫星位点,并发表了相关的引物序列,这给今后的相关研究提供了丰富的共享资源。业已证明微卫星引物在邻近种之间有一定的通用性。微卫星标记严格遵守孟德尔遗传规律,已经被用来推断某些蚜虫有性生殖的情况。同种蚜虫中可能同时存在有性系和无性系,微卫星研究证明有性系比无性系有更高的遗传多样性,无性系通常表现出杂合过剩和连锁不平衡。蚜虫的迁飞规律适合用微卫星标记加以研究,已有的研究显示在具有高度迁飞特性的种类中,地理种群间的遗传分化程度低,基因频率的相似性高。存在广泛分布的相同的多位点基因型是迁飞性蚜虫的另一个重要特征。在我国,微卫星应用于蚜虫生物学研究的工作还较少,鉴于该种标记的优良特性和巨大的潜力,本文建议今后相关的研究应该首先考虑微卫星标记。     

Comparative analysis of the within-population genetic structure in wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) at the self-incompatibility locus and nuclear microsatellites

Gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI) systems in plants exhibit high polymorphism at the SI controlling S-locus because individuals with rare alleles have a higher probability to successfully pollinate other plants than individuals with more frequent alleles. This process, referred to as frequency-dependent selection, is expected to shape number, frequency distribution, and spatial distribution of self-incompatibility alleles in natural populations. We investigated the genetic diversity and the spatial genetic structure within a Prunus avium population at two contrasting gene loci: nuclear microsatellites and the S-locus. The S-locus revealed a higher diversity (15 alleles) than the eight microsatellites (4-12 alleles). Although the frequency distribution of S-alleles differed significantly from the expected equal distribution, the S-locus showed a higher evenness than the microsatellites (Shannon's evenness index for the S-locus: E = 0.91; for the microsatellites: E = 0.48-0.83). Also, highly significant deviations from neutrality were found for the S-locus whereas only minor deviations were found for two of eight microsatellites. A comparison of the frequency distribution of S-alleles in three age-cohorts revealed no significant differences, suggesting that different levels of selection acting on the S-locus or on S-linked sites might also affect the distribution and dynamics of S-alleles. Autocorrelation analysis revealed a weak but significant spatial genetic structure for the multilocus average of the microsatellites and for the S-locus, but could not ascertain differences in the extent of spatial genetic structure between these locus types. An indirect estimate of gene dispersal, which was obtained to explain this spatial genetic pattern, indicated high levels of gene dispersal within our population (sigma(g) = 106 m). This high gene dispersal, which may be partly due to the self-incompatibility system itself, aids the effective gene flow of the microsatellites, thereby decreasing the contrast between the neutral microsatellites and the S-locus.     

大口黑鲈微卫星DNA指纹图谱的构建和遗传结构分析

以国内目前养殖的大口黑鲈[Micropterus salmoides(Lacépède)]群体(CH)、2009年引进的佛罗里达亚种(FL-09)、2010年引进的佛罗里达亚种(FL-10)、2010年引进的北方亚种(NT-10)为实验材料,应用43个微卫星DNA标记对这4个大口黑鲈群体进行遗传检测,构建了各群体的微卫星DNA指纹图谱,并对其遗传结构进行分析。结果显示:CH、FL-09、FL-10和NT-10群体的平均等位基因数(A)分别为2.58、3.74、3.70和4.21,平均期望杂合度(He)分别为0.4549、0.4896、0.5010和0.6138,平均多态信息量(PIC)分别为0.3786、0.4443、0.4566和0.5546,表明国内目前养殖的大口黑鲈群体遗传多样性水平远远低于国外新引进的大口黑鲈群体。利用UPGMA法对4个群体进行聚类,结果 FL-09和FL-10聚为一支,遗传距离为0.0506;NT-10和CH聚为另一支,遗传距离为0.4244,推测FL-09和FL-10两个佛罗里达亚种属于相同的群体,而NT-10和CH两个北方亚种来自不同的群体,甚至不同的水系。同时从指纹图谱中,筛选到5个特异的微卫星标记(JZL114、MiSaTPW11、Lma120、Mdo6和Msal21),可以鉴别FL、NT-10和CH群体,其中MiSaTPW11和Msal21这两个标记组合可以完全鉴别这3个群体。将5个特异性微卫星标记的图谱数据转化成计算机可以识别的数码指纹,可以方便应用于大口黑鲈不同群体及其杂交种的鉴定。研究结果可以为我国大口黑鲈种质资源保存、品种鉴定和良种选育提供理论依据。     

PCR primers for trinucleotide and tetranucleotide microsatellites in greater amberjack,Seriola dumerili

Eighteen nuclear‐encoded microsatellites from a genomic DNA library of greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, were isolated and characterized. The microsatellites include 13 perfect (five tetranucleotide and eight trinucleotide) and five imperfect (three tetranucleotide, one trinucleotide and one combination dinucleotide/trinucleotide) repeat motifs. The number of alleles at the 18 microsatellites among a sample of 29 fish ranged from two to 20; gene diversity (expected heterozygosity) ranged from 0.068 to 0.950, whereas observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.069 to 0.966. Following Bonferroni correction, genotypes at all 18 microsatellites fit expectations of Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and all pairwise comparisons of microsatellites did not deviate significantly from genotypic equilibrium. Greater amberjack support commercial and recreational fisheries along both the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts of the USA and represent a species with potential for worldwide aquaculture. The microsatellites developed will be useful for population genetic studies of ‘wild’ populations and breeding studies of domesticated populations.     

Comparative allozyme and microsatellite population structure in a narrow endemic plant species, Centaurea corymbosa Pourret (Asteraceae)

Centaurea corymbosa Pourret (Asteraceae) is a narrow endemic species known only from six populations located in a 3-km2 area in the south of France. Earlier field experiments have suggested that pollen and seed dispersal were highly restricted within and among populations. Consistent with the field results, populations were highly differentiated for five allozyme loci and among-population variation fitted an isolation-by-distance model. In the present study, we investigated the genetic structure of C. corymbosa using six microsatellite loci. As with allozymes, microsatellites revealed no within-population structure and a large differentiation among populations. However, allozyme loci were less powerful than microsatellites in detecting the extent of gene flow assessed by assignment tests. The patterns of structuration greatly varied among loci for both types of marker; we suggest that differences in single-locus pattern could mainly be an effect of stochastic variation for allozymes and an effect of variation in mutation rate for microsatellites. In contrast to the multilocus results, the two most polymorphic microsatellite loci did not show any isolation-by-distance pattern. Our results suggest that highly variable loci might not always be the best suited markers to quantify levels of gene flow among populations.     

Isolation and characterization of dinucleotide microsatellites in greater amberjack, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola dumerili</Emphasis>

Thirteen nuclear-encoded dinucleotide microsatellites were characterized from a genomic DNA library of greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili. The microsatellites include 12 perfect-repeat motifs and one imperfect-repeat motif. The number of alleles at the 13 microsatellites among a sample of 29 fish ranged from 3 to 25; gene diversity (expected heterozygosity) ranged from 0.296 to 0.948, while observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.276 to 0.897. Following Bonferroni correction, genotypes at all 13 microsatellites fit expectations of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. One pairwise comparison of microsatellites deviated significantly from expectations of genotypic equilibrium, suggesting that these two microsatellites may be linked. Greater amberjack support commercial and recreational fisheries along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. and represent a species with potential for worldwide aquaculture. The microsatellites developed will be useful for conservation and population genetic studies of ‘wild’ and domesticated populations of greater amberjack.     

MIGRATION PATTERNS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTILOCUS ASSOCIATIONS IN A SELFING ANNUAL,TRITICUM DICOCCOIDES

Migration patterns in wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, were inferred from single-locus and multilocus genetic distributions based primarily on expectations derived from single-locus and multilocus cline theory. Populations from five collections displayed a large amount of multilocus structuring, as indicated by high values of gametic-phase disequilibrium between pairs of loci and by high values of multilocus associations. Analyses of the distributions of individual alleles, however, indicated that alleles had apparent independent centers of origin and that at least some independent dispersal within regions occupied by ecotypes or races of wild emmer had occurred. The distribution of the degrees of multilocus association suggests that there has been a net migration of the northern or Qazrin race south and west into the pocket occupied by the Yehudiyya race. The results suggest that ecotypic differentiation may be independent and may antedate electrophoretically determined differentiation in these populations. There is no convincing evidence that the multilocus associations represent coadapted complexes; rather they appear to involve associations of mutant alleles that have been accentuated and preserved by low recombination rates and gene-flow barriers within previously differentiated ecotypes.     

Microsatellite DNA and RAPD fingerprinting,identification and genetic relationships of hybrid poplar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus x canadensis</Emphasis>) cultivars

Microsatellite DNA markers of ten SSR loci and 248 RAPD loci (resolved by 26 RAPD primers) were used for DNA fingerprinting and differentiation of 17 widely grown Populus x canadensis syn. Populus x euramericana (interspecific Populus deltoides x Populus nigra hybrids) cultivars ("Baden 431", "Blanc du Poitou", "Canada Blanc", "Dorskamp 925", "Eugenei", "Gelrica", "Grandis", "Heidemij", "I-55/56", "I-132/56", "I-214", "Jacometti", "Ostia", "Regenerata", "Robusta", "Steckby" and "Zurich 03/3"), and determination of their genetic interrelationships. Informativeness of microsatellite and RAPD markers was also evaluated in comparison with allozyme markers for clone/cultivar identification in P. x canadensis. High microsatellite DNA and RAPD genetic diversity was observed in the sampled cultivars. All of the 17 P. x canadensis cultivars could be differentiated by their multilocus genotypes at four SSR loci, and were heterozygous for their parental species-specific alleles at the PTR6 SSR locus. Except for "Canada Blanc" and "Ostia", which had identical RAPD patterns, all cultivars could also be differentiated by RAPD fingerprints produced by each of the two RAPD primers, OPA07 and OPB15. For microsatellites, the mean number of alleles, polymorphic information content, observed heterozygosity, observed number of genotypes and the number of cultivars with unique genotypes per locus was 5.2, 0.64, 0.67, 5.7 and 2.2, respectively. For RAPD markers, the number of haplotypes per locus, and the number of cultivars with unique RAPD profiles per locus were 1.06 and 0.72, respectively. Overall, microsatellite DNA markers were the most informative for DNA fingerprinting of P. x canadensis cultivars. On the per locus basis, microsatellites were about six-times more informative than RAPD markers and about nine-times more informative than allozyme markers. However, on the per primer basis, RAPD markers were more informative. The UPGMA cluster plots separated the 17 cultivars into two major groups based on their microsatellite genotypic similarities, and into three major groups based on their RAPD fragment similarities. Both the microsatellite and RAPD data suggest that the cultivars "Baden 431", "Heidemij", "Robusta" and "Steckby" are genetically closely related. The inter-cultivar genetic relationships from microsatellite DNA and RAPD markers were consistent with those observed from allozyme markers, and were in general agreement with their speculated origin. Microsatellite DNA and RAPD markers could be used for clone and cultivar identification, varietal control and registration, and stock handling in P. x canadensis.     

Microsatellite loci in eelgrass Zostera marina reveal marked polymorphism within and among populations

Using an enriched genomic library, we developed seven (CT)n/(GA)n microsatellite loci for eelgrass Zostera marina L. Enrichment is described and highly recommended for genomes in which microsatellites are rare, such as in many plants. A test for polymorphism was performed on individuals from three geographically separated populations (N = 15/population) and revealed considerable genetic variation. The number of alleles per locus varied between five and 11 and the observed heterozygosities for single loci ranged from 0.16 to 0.81 within populations. Mean allele lengths were markedly different among populations, indicating that the identified loci will be useful in studying population structure in Z. marina. As the frequency of the most abundant multilocus genotype within populations was always < 1%, these loci have sufficient resolving power to address clone size in predominantly vegetatively reproducing populations.     

Extensive polymorphism in Cryptosporidium parvum identified by multilocus microsatellite analysis

Restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequence analysis discern two main types of Cryptosporidium parvum. We present a survey of length polymorphism at several microsatellite loci for type 1 and type 2 isolates. A total of 14 microsatellite loci were identified from C. parvum DNA sequences deposited in public databases. All repeats were mono-, di-, and trinucleotide repeats of A, AT, and AAT, reflecting the high AT content of the C. parvum genome. Several of these loci showed significant length polymorphism, with as many as seven alleles identified for a single locus. Differences between alleles ranged from 1 to 27 bp. Karyotype analysis using probes flanking three microsatellites localized each marker to an individual chromosomal band, suggesting that these markers are single copy. In a sample of 19 isolates for which at least three microsatellites were typed, a majority of isolates displayed a unique multilocus fingerprint. Microsatellite analysis of isolates passaged between different host species identified genotypic changes consistent with changes in parasite populations.     

恒河猴群微卫星DNA多态性的分析

目的　确立一种对恒河猴群个体的遗传物质进行准确可靠、快速简便的遗传检测方法。方法　利用聚合酶链反应 (PCR)扩增技术对 2 0只恒河猴群个体间进行了DNA多态性的分析。结果　筛选出 9个微卫星DNA位点具有显著多态性 ,4个微卫星DNA位点没有多态性 ,还有 2个位点等位基因数目较少。结论　利用这些多态性微卫星位点建立一种对恒河猴群个体进行有效、准备可靠、快捷简便的遗传背景监测方法。     

Superinstability (TCT/TCC)n of microsatellite DNA in parthenogenetic lizards Darevskia unisexualis (family Lacertidae)

Using multilocus DNA fingerprinting, we have examined variability of (TCT)n microsatellite and M13 minisatellite DNA repeats in populations, families, and tissues of Caucasian parthenogenetic rock lizards Darevskia unisexualis (Lacertidae). It has been shown for the first time that population and family DNA samples of D. unisexualis (75 samples in total) have individually specific DNA fingerprinting patterns of (TCT)n fragments. Analysis of inheritance of (TCT)n microsatellites in 46 first-generation progeny in 17 parthenogenetic D. unisexualis families revealed their extremely high instability. Mutant TCT fingerprint phenotypes were found in virtually each animal of the progeny. Moreover, varying fragments in the progeny and their original variants in the mothers were shown to simultaneously contain (TCT)n and (TCC)n polypyrimidine clusters. At the same time, no variability of (TCT)n fragments has been detected in the tissues and organs of mature parthenogenetic lizards and in the analogous tissues of the two-week-old progeny of this year. This suggests the absence of somatic mosaicism and methylation of the corresponding loci in the samples. Along with the hyperinstability of (TCT/TCC)n polypyrimidine clusters, we have shown that the population and family DNA fingerprinting patterns of M13 minisatellites were invariable and monomorphic in the same DNA samples of D. unisexualis. Our results indicate that mutations at loci containing polypyrimidine microsatellites significantly contribute to the total genomic variability of parthenogenetic lizards D. unisexualis.     

Extensive Polymorphism in Cryptosporidium parvum Identified by Multilocus Microsatellite Analysis

Restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequence analysis discern two main types of Cryptosporidium parvum. We present a survey of length polymorphism at several microsatellite loci for type 1 and type 2 isolates. A total of 14 microsatellite loci were identified from C. parvum DNA sequences deposited in public databases. All repeats were mono-, di-, and trinucleotide repeats of A, AT, and AAT, reflecting the high AT content of the C. parvum genome. Several of these loci showed significant length polymorphism, with as many as seven alleles identified for a single locus. Differences between alleles ranged from 1 to 27 bp. Karyotype analysis using probes flanking three microsatellites localized each marker to an individual chromosomal band, suggesting that these markers are single copy. In a sample of 19 isolates for which at least three microsatellites were typed, a majority of isolates displayed a unique multilocus fingerprint. Microsatellite analysis of isolates passaged between different host species identified genotypic changes consistent with changes in parasite populations.