Short interspersed nuclear element (SINE) sequences of the Bovidae

DNA sequences from Bovidae (cattle, goats and sheep) in the EMBL nucleotide database contain several short interspersed repeated sequences (SINEs). Three different SINEs have been found: Bov-A2, containing two 115-bp A elements; Bov-tA, a tRNA pseudogene coupled to an A element; and Bov-B of 560 bp or less and partially homologous to the A element. Bov-A2, Bov-tA and Bov-B occupy about 1.8%, 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively, of the bovine genome as represented in the nucleotide database. Apart from a tRNA-like sequence in both Bov-tA and the porcine SINEs, there was no similarity with the porcine SINEs. Apparently, the artiodactyle SINEs were established after the divergence leading to the Suidae and Bovidae but before the radiation within these families. Oligonucleotides were designed for a specific amplification of DNA from Bovidae.