title: Isolation and characterization of nine microsatellite loci from the Hawaiian grouper Epinephelus quernus (Serranidae) for population genetic analyses.
abstract: The availability of variable genetic markers for groupers (Serranidae) has generally been limited to mitochondrial DNA. For studies of population genetic structure, more loci are usually required; particularly useful are those that are nuclear in origin such as microsatellites. Here, we isolated and characterized 9 microsatellite loci from the endemic Hawaiian grouper Epinephelus quernus using a biotin-labeled oligonucleotide-streptavidin-coated magnetic bead approach. Of the 20 repeat-containing fragments isolated, 15 had sufficient flanking region in which to design primers. Among these, 9 produced consistent polymerase chain reaction product, and 6 were highly variable. These 6 loci were all composed of dinucleotide repeats, with the number of alleles ranging from 6 to 18, and heterozygosities from 33.3% to 91.7%. The high levels of variability observed should make these markers useful for population genetic studies of E. quernus, and potentially other epinephelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 201 Wellman Hall #3112, Berkeley, CA 94720-3112, USA. mrivera@nature.berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Malia Ana J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Glenn C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Roderick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D005828:Genetics, Population; D015698:Genomic Library; D005838:Genotype; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA