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Updated: Mar 10, 2026

Selective Capture of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine from Genomic DNA
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Selective Capture of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine from Genomic DNA

Published on: October 5, 2012

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MethSMRT: an integrative database for DNA N6-methyladenine and N4-methylcytosine generated by single-molecular

Pohao Ye1, Yizhao Luan1, Kaining Chen1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.

Nucleic Acids Research
|December 8, 2016
PubMed

Insights

MethSMRT is the first database for DNA 6-methyladenine (6mA) and 4-methylcytosine (4mC) methylomes. It utilizes single-molecule real-time sequencing data to explore these less-studied epigenetic modifications across 156 species.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics and Genomics
  • Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • DNA methylation, particularly 5-methylcytosine (5mC), is a key epigenetic modification.
  • Previous research has primarily focused on 5mC, with less attention paid to 6-methyladenine (6mA) and 4-methylcytosine (4mC).
  • Emerging single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology enables the detection of 6mA and 4mC at single-nucleotide resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish the first comprehensive resource for exploring DNA 6mA and 4mC methylomes.
  • To provide a centralized platform for accessing and analyzing SMRT sequencing data related to these modifications.
  • To facilitate systematic investigation of understudied DNA methylation patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Development and implementation of a standardized analysis pipeline for SMRT sequencing data.
  • Data curation and quality control for epigenome-wide methylation profiles.
  • Integration of a genome browser for visualization of methylation sites and genomic features.

Main Results:

  • MethSMRT database launched, hosting methylome data for 156 species (149 prokaryotes, 7 eukaryotes).
  • Database includes epigenome-wide methylation profiles, statistics, and predicted methylation motifs.
  • Genome browser enables visualization of methylation sites, SNPs, and annotations.

Conclusions:

  • MethSMRT serves as a valuable resource for the scientific community to study DNA 6mA and 4mC modifications.
  • The database supports research into the roles of these epigenetic marks across diverse species.
  • Public accessibility of MethSMRT promotes further discoveries in epigenetics.

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