Brief communication. Isolation of microsatellite loci from a social lizard, Egernia stokesii, using a modified enrichment procedure

Abstract

We report a modified microsatellite enrichment technique that was used to isolate tetranucleotide (AAAG) repeat loci from a group living Australian lizard, Egernia stokesii. The enrichment method is based on magnetic/biotin capture of repetitive sequences from restricted genomic DNA. The technique can be performed rapidly and recovers microsatellite loci with both flanking sequences intact. Twenty unique microsatellite loci (16.7% of white colonies screened) containing 10 or more tetranucleotide repeats were identified. Eleven loci were further analyzed in 10 unrelated individuals and had heterozygosities ranging from 0 to 90%. These loci will be used to investigate genetic relationships within and among crevice homesites of E. stokesii and also genetic differentiation among E. stokesii populations. At least four of the microsatellite loci can be amplified in related taxa, including other Egernia species and the closely related genera Corucia, Cyclodomorphus, and Tiliqua.