Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 12, 2025
Enhanced Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing for Assessment of DNA Methylation at Base Pair Resolution
Published on: February 24, 2015
Targeted bisulfite sequencing for biomarker discovery
Marco Morselli1, Colin Farrell2, Liudmilla Rubbi2
1Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences - The Collaboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
We developed a targeted bisulfite sequencing method to create DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks. This cost-effective approach aids biomarker discovery for various phenotypes, advancing epigenetic research.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Cytosine methylation, a key epigenetic modification, plays vital roles in mammalian development, differentiation, and age-related changes.
- Aberrant DNA methylation patterns are linked to diseases like cancer and neurological disorders.
- While Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing offers single-base resolution, its cost is a limitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a cost-effective method for DNA methylation analysis by combining Methylation Arrays and bisulfite sequencing.
- To describe a comprehensive protocol for building DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks.
- To enable biomarker discovery for diverse phenotypes using targeted bisulfite sequencing.
Main Methods:
- Development of a Targeted Bisulfite Sequencing (TBS) method.
- Integration of cost-efficiency from Methylation Arrays with digital signals from bisulfite sequencing.
- Detailed step-by-step protocol for constructing DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks.
Main Results:
- The developed Targeted Bisulfite Sequencing method offers a balance between cost and data quality.
- The protocol facilitates the creation of epigenetic clocks for age prediction and biomarker discovery.
- This approach is adaptable for virtually any phenotype of interest.
Conclusions:
- Targeted Bisulfite Sequencing provides a versatile and economical tool for epigenetic research.
- The described protocol enables the construction of robust DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks.
- This method holds significant potential for advancing biomarker discovery in various biological and medical fields.
