Characterization of newly developed SSLP markers for the rat

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Microsatellite sequences, particularly (CA)n dinucleotide repeats, are valuable genetic markers.
• Previous efforts have established radiation hybrid (RH) maps for the rat, but a dense linkage map is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize newly developed microsatellite markers.
• To release previously unpublished microsatellite marker information.
• To construct a high-density genome-wide linkage map for the laboratory rat.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and characterization of over 12,000 microsatellite sequences from BN rat genomic DNA.
• Design of oligonucleotide primer pairs for PCR amplification of microsatellite sequences.
• Genotyping of F2 progeny from (OLETFxBN) crosses to construct a genome-wide linkage map.

Main Results:

• Successfully isolated 9636 non-redundant microsatellite sequences and designed primers for 8189.
• Generated 7040 simple-sequence-length-polymorphism (SSLP) markers, with 3019 previously mapped by RH methods.
• Constructed a 1830.9 cM genome-wide linkage map with 515 markers, including 204 new markers, averaging 3.56 cM spacing.

Conclusions:

• The newly developed microsatellite markers and the dense linkage map represent a significant resource for rat genetic research.
• This map complements ongoing whole-genome radiation hybrid mapping efforts.
• The findings will facilitate genetic studies and gene mapping in the rat model species.