Scientists at University of Heidelberg, Institute of Human Genetics detail research in cell biology
2007 MAY 22 -- Research findings, "Quantification of the methylation status of the PWS/AS imprinted region: comparison of two approaches based on bisulfite sequencing and methylation-sensitive MLPA," are discussed in a new report. According to a study from Amsterdam, Netherlands, "Standard methods used for genomic methylation analysis allow the detection of complete absence of either methylated or non-methylated alleles but are usually unable to detect changes in the proportion of methylated and unmethylated alleles. We compare two methods for quantitative methylation analysis, using the chromosome 15q11-q13 imprinted region as model." "Absence of the non-methylated paternal allele in this region leads to Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) whilst absence of the methylated maternal allele results in Angelman syndrome (AS). A proportion of AS is caused by mosaic imprinting defects which may be missed with standard methods and require quantitative analysis for their detection. Sequence-based quantitative methylation analysis (SeQMA) involves quantitative comparison of peaks generated through sequencing reactions after bisulfite treatment. It is simple, cost-effective and can be easily established for a large number of genes. However, our results support previous suggestions that methods based on bisulfite treatment may be problematic for exact quantification of methylation status. Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) avoids bisulfite treatment. It detects changes in both CpG methylation as well as copy number of up to 40 chromosomal sequences in one simple reaction," wrote N. Dikow and colleagues, University of Heidelberg, Institute of Human Genetics. The researchers concluded: "Once established in a laboratory setting, the method is more accurate, reliable and less time consuming." Dikow and colleagues published their study in Molecular and Cellular Probes (Quantification of the methylation status of the PWS/AS imprinted region: comparison of two approaches based on bisulfite sequencing and methylation-sensitive MLPA. Molecular and Cellular Probes, 2007;21(3):208-15). For more information, contact N. Dikow, University of Heidelberg, Institute of Human Genetics, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Publisher contact information for the journal Molecular and Cellular Probes is: Academic Press Ltd. Elsevier Science Ltd., 24-28 Oval Rd., London NW1 7DX, England. Keywords: Netherlands, Amsterdam, Cell Biology, Cellular. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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