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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

DNA Methylation: Bisulphite Modification and Analysis
Published on: October 21, 2011
A Photo-responsive Small-Molecule Approach for the Opto-epigenetic Modulation of DNA Methylation
Ha Phuong Nguyen1, Sabrina Stewart2, Mikiembo N Kukwikila1
1Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
Abstract:
Controlling the functional dynamics of DNA within living cells is essential in biomedical research. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation play a key role in this endeavour. DNA methylation can be controlled by genetic means. Yet there are few chemical tools available for the spatial and temporal modulation of this modification. Herein, we present a small-molecule approach to modulate DNA methylation with light. The strategy uses a photo-tuneable version of a clinically used drug (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine) to alter the catalytic activity of DNA methyltransferases, the enzymes that methylate DNA. After uptake by cells, the photo-regulated molecule can be light-controlled to reduce genome-wide DNA methylation levels in proliferating cells. The chemical tool complements genetic, biochemical, and pharmacological approaches to study the role of DNA methylation in biology and medicine.
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