A HIGHLY CONSERVED MICROSATELLITE IN THE DYSTROPHIN GENE OF DIVERSE MAMMALIAN-SPECIES

The presence of a CA repeat within the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of the dystrophin gene has been reported previously in several species. Because microsatellites showing high cross-species homology can be con veniently used as markers in those species for which detailed linkage maps have not yet been developed, we evaluated whether the CA repeat c ould be amplified from a wide variety of mammalian species. Using a si ngle pair of canine-specific oligonucleotide primers, we successfully amplified the 3'-UTR from 18 different carnivore and six additional sp ecies (human, chimpanzee, goat, cow, rabbit and mouse) and show conser vation of the CA repeat in the dystrophin gene from a wide range of ev olutionarily diverse mammalian species.