Study of Tissue-Specific CpG Methylation of DNA in Extended Genomic Loci

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T. L. Azhikina^* and E. D. Sverdlov

Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; fax: (7-095) 330-6538; E-mail: tanya@humgen.siobc.ras.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Submitted December 29, 2004

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Modern approaches for studies on genome functioning include investigation of its epigenetic regulation. Methylation of cytosines in CpG dinucleotides is an inherited epigenetic modification that is responsible for both functional activity of certain genomic loci and total chromosomal stability. This review describes the main approaches for studies on DNA methylation. Under consideration are site-specific approaches based on bisulfite sequencing and methyl-sensitive PCR, whole-genome approaches aimed at searching for new methylation hot spots, and also mapping of unmethylated CpG sites in extended genomic loci.

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KEY WORDS: DNA methylation analysis, bisulfite sequencing, methyl-sensitive PCR (MS-PCR), whole-genome approaches, Non-methylated Genomic Sites Coincidence Cloning (NGSCC)

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