BREAKTHROUGH DISCOVERY: Tet-assisted bisulfite sequencing (TAB-Seq), a new method for mapping methylation to single base resolution of entire genome

BREAKTHROUGH DISCOVERY

Tet-assisted bisulfite sequencing (TAB-Seq), a new method for mapping methylation to single base resolution of entire genome

DNA methylation regulating gene expression is a known fact but study of this 5-hydroxylmethylcytosines (5hmC) has been hampered by the lack of a method to map it at single-base resolution on a genome-wide scale. Affinity purification-based methods (which are used currently) cannot precisely locate 5hmC nor accurately determine its relative abundance at each modified site.  For the first time a revolutionary  genome-wide approach  named “ Tet-assisted bisulfite sequencing (TAB-Seq)” has been devised by Scientists from University of Chicago, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego and Emory University.  This method,  when combined with traditional bisulfite sequencing can be used for

Development of a nanofluidic device that combines real-time detection and automated sorting of individual molecules based on their epigenetic state.

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA and histone methylation, are responsible for regulatory pathways that affect disease. Current epigenetic analyses use bisulfite conversion to identify DNA methylation and chromatin immunoprecipitation to collect molecules bearing a specific histone modification.  A new method  using a nanofluidic device that combines real-time detection and automated sorting of individual molecules based on their epigenetic state has been developed by a group of Scientists from Cornell University.

This device evaluates the fluorescence from labeled epigenetic modifications