Molecular cloning of an equine satellite-type DNA sequence and its chromosomal localization

We have molecularly cloned portions of equine satellite-type DNA and investigated the organization of the DNA sequence of the cloned segments. Sequence analysis and dot-blot analysis, using the cloned sequence (ES200) as a probe, indicate that the satellite-type DNA sequence consists mainly of 221-bp tandem repeats and represents 3.7-11% of the equine genome. Southern blot analysis further shows that (1) no sequences homologous to ES200 exist in the human, swine, and bovine genomes and that (2) the fragment pattern of the satellite-type DNA produced by ApaI cleavage shows a slight difference among equine DNA samples, indicating a slight sequence variation between individual horses. To localize the satellite-type DNA in the horse genome, chromosome spreads on glass slides were first subjected to G-banding to identify each chromosome and then hybridized in situ with biotin-labeled ES200. The chromosome banding, together with the hybridization, demonstrates that the satellite sequences are preferentially localized on the centromeric regions of all chromosomes except chromosomes 2, 9, and 11.