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 conveniently used as markers in those species for which detailed linkage maps have not yet been developed, we evaluated whether the CA repeat could be amplified from a wide variety of mammalian species. Using a single pair of canine-specific oligonucleotide primers, we successfully amplified the 3'-UTR from 18 different carnivore and six additional species (human, chimpanzee, goat, cow, rabbit and mouse) and show conservation of the CA repeat in the dystrophin gene from a wide range of evolutionarily diverse mammalian species.