CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ABUNDANT SHORT INTERSPERSED NUCLEAR-ELEMENT (SINE) PRESENT IN CANIS-FAMILIARIS

A short interspersed nuclear element (Can SINE) of similar to 130-150 bp was cloned and characterized from Canis familiaris. We demonstrate that this element is interspersed, present approximately every 5-8.3 k bp, and many are sufficiently close to allow IRS (interspersed repetit ive DNA sequences) PCR. Sequence analysis of >20 Can SINEs from the do g has identified a conserved region that was used to design oligonucle otides for IRS PCR. Since Can SINEs are not present in human or rodent genomes, IRS PCR using oligonucleotides directed to the conserved reg ion of Can SINEs can be used to simplify analysis of canid DNA in soma tic cell hybrids, as well as in large insert cloning vectors. We demon strate that the canid IRS products are polymorphic and could be develo ped as genetic markers for filter-based genotyping in this organism.