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An Overview of Epigenetic Assays

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Abstract

A significant portion of ongoing epigenetic research involves the investigation of DNA methylation and chromatin modification patterns seen throughout many biological processes. Over the last few years, epigenetic research has undergone a gradual shift and recent studies have been directed toward a genome-wide assessment. DNA methylation and chromatin modifications are essential components of the regulation of gene activity. DNA methylation effectively down-regulates gene activity by addition of a methyl group to the five-carbon of a cytosine base. Less specifically, modification of the chromatin structure can be carried out by multiple mechanisms leading to either the upregulation or down-regulation of the associated gene. Of the many assays used to assess the effects of epigenetic modifications, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), which serves to monitor changes in chromatin structure, and bisulfite modification, which tracks changes in DNA methylation, are the two most commonly used techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 175 Campbell Hall, 1300 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1170, USA

    J. Tyson DeAngelis, Woodrow J. Farrington & Trygve O. Tollefsbol

  2. Center for Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Trygve O. Tollefsbol

  3. Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Trygve O. Tollefsbol

  4. Clinical Nutrition Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Trygve O. Tollefsbol

Authors
  1. J. Tyson DeAngelis
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  2. Woodrow J. Farrington
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  3. Trygve O. Tollefsbol
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Correspondence to Trygve O. Tollefsbol.

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J. T. DeAngelis and W. J. Farrington are contributed equally.

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DeAngelis, J.T., Farrington, W.J. & Tollefsbol, T.O. An Overview of Epigenetic Assays. Mol Biotechnol 38, 179–183 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-007-9010-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-007-9010-y

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