Cloned microsatellite repeats differ between 4-base restriction endonucleases

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci are an important marker type for population genetic studies despite the limitation that development of novel loci requires construction and screening of genomic DNA libraries. The common practice of size fractioning genomic DNA before cloning could lead to differential representation of SSR loci within genomic libraries. In addition, linkage mapping studies have shown that small numbers of SSR markers are not randomly distributed within the genomes from which they are isolated. From attempts to clone five SSR repeat sequences in two wild plant species we show that the numbers and repeat type of potential SSR markers depend on the restriction endonuclease used to sample the genome when constructing DNA libraries. This observation is consistent with unequal sampling of the genome by different restriction enzymes. However, as a group the five SSR repeal sequences are not associated with a given restriction enzyme, suggesting they are not clumped within the genome. Use of multiple restriction enzymes to construct DNA libraries may help ensure that cloned SSR loci are drawn from diverse locations in the genome, helping to meet the assumption of randomly located marker loci required for population genetic inferences.