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Updated: May 25, 2026
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Targeted DNA Methylation Analysis by Next-generation Sequencing
Published on: February 24, 2015
DNA methylation: a timeline of methods and applications
Alan Harrison1, Anne Parle-McDermott
1Nutritional Genomics Group, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University Dublin, Ireland.
Frontiers in Genetics
|February 4, 2012
Summary
This study reviews DNA methylation profiling techniques, crucial for understanding gene regulation and disease. Advances range from chromatography to bisulfite sequencing and next-generation platforms for epigenome analysis.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- DNA methylation is a key epigenetic modification regulating gene expression.
- It plays a vital role in biological health and disease.
- Understanding the human epigenome requires advanced methylation profiling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review major developments in DNA methylation profiling methodologies over the past three decades.
- To highlight advancements enabling comprehensive epigenome analysis.
- To discuss techniques relevant to the Human Epigenome Project.
Main Methods:
- Early methods involved chromatography for separating methylated and unmethylated cytosines.
- Molecular techniques like immunoprecipitation and restriction enzyme digestion were developed.
- Sodium bisulfite sequencing enables direct identification of methylation as a base-pair change.
Main Results:
- Methodologies have evolved significantly over 30 years.
- Techniques now allow for genome-wide and locus-specific DNA methylation analysis.
- Integration with DNA microarrays and next-generation sequencing offers high-throughput profiling.
Conclusions:
- Modern DNA methylation profiling techniques are essential for epigenome research.
- Advancements have significantly improved our ability to study the methylome.
- These methods are critical for unraveling the complete human epigenetic profile.
