Analysis of the evolutionarily conserved repeat motifs in the genome of the highly endangered central Indian swamp deer Cervus duvauceli branderi

We have analyzed the genome of central Indian swamp deer Cervus duvauceli b randeri, an inhabitant of the Kanha National Park, a wildlife conservatory in Central India, with a view to provide a genetic basis for their extincti on. Evolutionarily conserved repeat sequence motifs (GATA)(3.75), TA(GATA)( 4), (GACA)(3.75), (TGG)(6) and a set of mouse beta-actin primers were used to uncover the sequence variation within and between related species by emp loying techniques of hybridization and AP-PCR amplification. The oligo prob e carrying the GACA and TGG repeat motifs was found to be positive with Cer vus genome, whereas (GATA)(3.75), TA(GATA)(4) and beta-actin probes did not cross-hybridize with the same. AP-PCR amplification with (GACA)(3.75), unl ike the (TGG)(6) primer, generated distinct bands in the range of 0.37-2.10 kb amongst different genomes including Cervus. A comparative genome analys is of other species using the AP-PCR approach with (GACA)(3.75) primer reve aled the phylogenetic status of Cervus duvauceli branderi. From the analysi s of a very limited number of Cervus DNA samples, we observed a high level of genetic homogeneity that may be a prime reason for the extinction of thi s species. This study has implications in the context of conservation of th is endangered Cervus duvauceli branderi species. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.