Locus-specific EPIC-PCR primers for four distinct calmodulin genes of the Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)

Abstract

Nucleotide sequences of four distinct calmodulin genes (designated as <em>CaM</em>-A to -D) of the Pacific bluefin tuna (<em>Thunnus orientalis</em>) were compared. Nucleotide sequence divergence between the coding regions of four genes ranged from 16.0 to 21.6%, and locus-specific eight primer pairs targeting introns were designed. These primer pairs amplified expected size of fragments in five congeneric tuna species, and utility of these primer pairs was investigated using distant fish species.