At present, several molecular biology methods are routinely used to determine the methylation status of a gene sequence. Techniques currently available for examining such changes either require selection of a region, then examination of methylation changes, or utilize methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes to identify an alteration. Genome-wide sequencing is also being used to detect epigenetic changes. These current techniques are time-consuming and expensive. We aim instead to design a novel high throughput and cost-effective technique that uses fluorescently labeled beads to specifically probe for methylated oligonucleotide sequences. The higher the fluorescence of the sample, the greater the extent of methylation of the probed sequence.This technique will enable a fast and effective method that is to be used in high throughput screening for specific epigenetic changes associated with cell phenotype, differentiation status, or disease. We will demonstrate the power of the method as well as validate its results using model systems in the future.

Design of a novel high-throughput technique to detect epigenetic changes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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