Abstract

A microsatellite enrichment libraries construction colony hybridization strategy was used for large-scale isolation of microsatellites from the whole genome of the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Using 14 different probes, paired-end sequencing of 952 clones resulted in 753 positive and individual clones. Using Vector NTI Suite 8.0 and tandem repeats finder software, 1004 tandem repeat sequences were found, including 831 microsatellites and 173 minisatellites, which accounted for 82.77 and 17.23% of the total repeat sequences, respectively. From the microsatellites, 158 polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed. A detailed analysis of the different nucleotide units across the whole genome of turbot was also presented, the dinucleotide unit was the dominant repeat unit among the six repeat unit types (as represented by number of repeats and the repeat unit cumulative length), while the pentanucleotide type was the most frequently found. The AGG (126.11) motif was the most variable repeat unit type in this research with a coefficient of variation value of 126.11. In this study, a negative correlation between the length of repeat units and the average copy number was detected (r = -0.5, P = 0.072).

Key words: Microsatellite, turbot, enrichment library, primer.