An Analysis of Microsatellite Loci in Arabidopsis thaliana: Mutational Dynamics and Application

Corresponding author: Alan M. Lloyd, Cell, and Developmental Biology, MBB 1.448b, 2500 Speedway, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712., lloyd{at}uts.cc.utexas.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: V. SUNDARESAN

Microsatellite loci are among the most commonly used molecular markers. These loci typically exhibit variation for allele frequency distribution within a species. However, the factors contributing to this variation are not well understood. To expand on the current knowledge of microsatellite evolution, 20 microsatellite loci were examined for 126 accessions of the flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Substantial variability in mutation pattern among loci was found, most of which cannot be explained by the assumptions of the traditional stepwise mutation model or infinite alleles model. Here it is shown that the degree of locus diversity is strongly correlated with the number of contiguous repeats, more so than with the total number of repeats. These findings support a strong role for repeat disruptions in stabilizing microsatellite loci by reducing the substrate for polymerase slippage and recombination. Results of cluster analyses are also presented, demonstrating the potential of microsatellite loci for resolving relationships among accessions of A. thaliana.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A.-L. Raquin, F. Depaulis, A. Lambert, N. Galic, P. Brabant, and I. Goldringer Experimental Estimation of Mutation Rates in a Wheat Population With a Gene Genealogy Approach Genetics, August 1, 2008; 179(4): 2195 - 2211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gaudeul, H. K. Stenoien, and J. Agren Landscape structure, clonal propagation, and genetic diversity in Scandinavian populations of Arabidopsis lyrata (Brassicaceae) Am. J. Botany, July 1, 2007; 94(7): 1146 - 1155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Y. Abdurakhmonov, F. N. Kushanov, F. Djaniqulov, Z. T. Buriev, A. E. Pepper, N. Fayzieva, G. T. Mavlonov, S. Saha, J. N. Jenkins, and A. Abdukarimov The Role of Induced Mutation in Conversion of Photoperiod Dependence in Cotton J. Hered., May 1, 2007; 98(3): 258 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. C. Noller, M. C. McEllistrem, K. A. Shutt, and L. H. Harrison Locus-Specific Mutational Events in a Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 J. Clin. Microbiol., February 1, 2006; 44(2): 374 - 377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]