Isolating microsatellite DNA loci

A series of techniques are presented to construct genomic DNA libraries highly enriched for microsatellite DNA loci. The individual techniques used here derive from several published protocols but have been optimized and tested in our research laboratories as well as in classroom settings at the University of South Carolina and University of Georgia, with students achieving nearly 100% success. Reducing the number of manipulations involved has been a key to success, decreasing both the failure rate and the time necessary to isolate loci of interest. In our lab during the past 3 years alone, these protocols have been successfully used to isolate microsatellite DNA loci from at least 55 species representing three kingdoms. These protocols have made it possible to reduce the time to identify candidate loci for primer development from most eukaryotic species to as little as 1 week.