Development of techniques for DNA-methylation analysis

Li Zhang, Yu-Zhi Xu, Xiao-Feng Xiao, Jun Chen, Xue-Qin Zhou, Wen-Yuan Zhu, Zong Dai, Xiao-Yong Zou

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.

Abstract

DNA methylation is an important mode of epigenetic modification and has great significance in biochemistry, medicine and genomics. The development of techniques for DNA-methylation analysis is fundamental and pivotal for epigenome research. In around 30 years of diligent study, direct and indirect approaches were developed. Direct approaches mainly focus on global methylation analysis, while indirect approaches rely on specific recognition of DNA-methylation loci. In this review, we introduce typical methods, especially those based on developing the method of methylation-loci recognition from the most used, bisulfite conversion, biological recognition, and the newly proposed chemical cleavage. Furthermore, we assess the perspectives on the research methodology of DNA-methylation analysis. To date, there have been few summaries of the research methodology of DNA-methylation analysis. The review is envisioned to be helpful for the researchers to design novel methods of DNA-methylation analysis.

Keywords: Bioaffinity reaction; Biological recognition; Bisulfite treatment; Chemical cleavage; Determination; Direct oxidation; DNA methylation; DNA-methylation analysis; Enzymatic digestion; Epigenome research.