Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Protocol for Epigenetics Studies

Epigenetic modification are heritable changes in gene expression not encoded by the DNA sequence therefore playing a significant role in a broad range of biological processes and diseases. A key player of the epigenetic modifications is the DNA methylation, a process involving the covalent transfer of a methyl group to the C-5 position of the cytosine ring of DNA forming 5-methylcytosine (5mC), catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases. Altering the structure of the chromatin, DNA methylation has the potential to down-regulate gene expression. The here presented protocol shows a method to obtain DNA samples ready for NGS sequencing for genome-wide methylation analysis.