[Cloning and sequencing of four microsatellite loci in Small Tail Han Sheep]

Small Tail Han sheep is an excellent local sheep breed in China. Small Tail Han sheep has significant characteristics of high prolificacy. The lambing percentage averaged 260 percent in Small Tail Han sheep. The genetic detection of 4 microsatellite loci OarAE101, OarHH35, BM143 and BMS2508 which were closely linked to the fecundity gene FecB in Booroola sheep was conducted in 159 sheep in Small Tail Han sheep, Dorset sheep, F1 hybzids(Dorset x Small Tail Han sheep). The results confirmed the genetic characteristics of codominance of microsatellite DNA. The PCR amplified products of microsatellites were detected by non-denatured (natural) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The sequences of PCR amplification fragment of 6 clones of 4 microsatellite loci in Small Tail Han sheep were accepted by GenBank of National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health in USA, the GenBank accession numbers were AF394445, AF394446, AF394447, AF394448, AF394449, AF394450, respectively. The sequence homogeneity between OarAE101 in Small Tail Han sheep in this study and the ovine OarAE101 in GenBank was 98 percent. The sequence homogeneity between OarHH35 in Small Tail Han sheep in this study and the ovine OarHH35 in GenBank was 99 percent. The sequence homogeneity between BM143 in Small Tail Han sheep in this study and the bovine BM143 in GenBank was 95 percent. The sequence homogeneity between BMS2508 in Small Tail Han sheep in this study and the bovine BMS2508 in GenBank was 95 percent. OarAE101, OarHH35, BM143 and BMS2508 in Small Tail Han sheep were all perfect microsatellites. These results could provide molecular basic data for the research on the germplasm characteristics of Small Tail Han sheep.