Discovery and cross-amplification of microsatellite polymorphisms in asterinid sea stars

Variation in tandem repeats of two- to six-base nucleotide motifs (microsatellites) can be used to obtain inexpensive and highly informative multi-locus data on population genetics.We developed and tested a large set of cross-amplifiable sea star (Asterinidae) microsatellite markers from a mixed pool of genomic DNA from eight species. We describe cloned sequences, primers, and PCR conditions, and characterize population-level variation for some species and markers. A few clones containing microsatellites showed considerable similarity to sequences (including genes of known function) in other sea stars and in sea urchins (from the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus complete genome). The pooled genomic DNA method was an efficient way to sample microsatellites from many species: we cloned 2-10 microsatellites from each of eight species, and most could be cross-amplified in 1-7 other species. At 12 loci in two species, we found 1-10 alleles per microsatellite, with a broad range of inbreeding coefficients. Measures of polymorphism were negatively correlated with the extent of cross-amplification.