Microsatellite sequences are under-represented in two mite genomes

Microsatellites are known to be a common feature of eukaryote genomes, Here we investigate the presence of microsatellite sequences in the genome of two mite species, Tetranychus urticae and Amblyseius fallacis, based on screening of both mite genomic libraries and Southern blots of these mites that we compare to two vertebrates. No signal with GT(15), or a faint smear with CT10 were obtained in Southern analysis for the two mites, whereas both probes strongly bound with vertebrate DNA. Genomic libraries constructed in plasmid and lambda vectors were probed and only two CT microsatellites were isolated for T. urticae. Among eight trinucleotides probes tested, the strongest hybridization signal was detected for T. urticae with CAT and TGA probes. These two classes of repeats were also the most represented in genomic library screenings. However, only sequences with short numbers of units could be detected (<CAT(4) or TGA(9)). Congruency of Southern analysis and screening of partial genomic libraries indicates an under-representation of microsatellite sequences in the two mite genomes. The potential of the scarce repetitive DNA isolated from mites to serve as population genetics markers is discussed on the basis of preliminary assessment of their polymorphism.