Project description:Epigenomics is developing a colon cancer screening assay based on differential methylation of specific CpG sites for the detection of early stage disease. A genome-wide methylation analysis and oligonucleotide array study using DNA from various stages of colon cancer and normal tissue have been completed to obtain candidate CpG markers. Based on results obtained in the above studies, Epigenomics has moved to the final stages of feasibility with a specific, highly sensitive real-time marker assay that is able to detect colon cancer DNA in blood plasma.
Project description:Here we report the genome-wide DNA methylation analyses by MeDIP-seq, performed on epididymal fat of mice fed either high-fat or regular chow diet.
Project description:Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) is a widely used approach to study DNA methylation genome-wide. Here, we present a novel MeDIP-Seq protocol compatible with the Ion Torrent semiconductor-based sequencing platform that is scalable and accurately identifies sites of differential DNA methylation. Additionally, we demonstrate that the high-throughput data derived from MeDIP-Seq on the Ion Torrent platform provides adequate coverage of CpG cytosines, the methylation states of which we validated at single-base resolution on the Infinium HumanMethylation450K Beadchip array. We applied this integrative approach to further investigate the role of DNA methylation in alternative splicing and to profile 5-mC and 5-hmC variants of DNA methylation in normal human brain tissue that we observed localize over distinct genomic regions. These applications of MeDIP-Seq on the Ion Torrent platform have broad utility and add to the current methodologies for profiling genome-wide DNA methylation states in normal and disease conditions. MeDIP-Seq on Ion Torrent Platform in HCT116 and Human Brain
Project description:Truncated forms of CGGBP1 with (N-term) or without (C-term) the DNA-binding domain (DBD) have been used to to assay global cytosine methylation. HEK293T cells with endogenous CGGBP1 knocked down were used to over-express truncated forms of CGGBP1 followed by MeDIP-Seq analysis. Genome-wide analyses of cytosine methylation and binding of CGGBP1 DBD show that CGGBP1 restricts cytosine methylation in a manner that depends on its DBD and its DNA-binding. Our findings suggest that CGGBP1 protects transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) from cytosine methylation-associated loss. A superimposition of our results and evolution of CGGBP1 suggests that mitigation of cytosine methylation is majorly achieved by its N-terminal DBD. Our results position CGGBP1 DNA-binding as a major evolutionarily acquired mechanism through which it keeps cytosine methylation under check and regulates TFBS retention.
Project description:Introgressed variants from other species can be an important source of genetic variation because they may arise rapidly, can include multiple mutations on a single haplotype, and have often been pretested by selection in the species of origin. Although introgressed alleles are generally deleterious, several studies have reported introgression as the source of adaptive alleles-including the rodenticide-resistant variant of Vkorc1 that introgressed from Mus spretus into European populations of Mus musculus domesticus. Here, we conducted bidirectional genome scans to characterize introgressed regions into one wild population of M. spretus from Spain and three wild populations of M. m. domesticus from France, Germany, and Iran. Despite the fact that these species show considerable intrinsic postzygotic reproductive isolation, introgression was observed in all individuals, including in the M. musculus reference genome (GRCm38). Mus spretus individuals had a greater proportion of introgression compared with M. m. domesticus, and within M. m. domesticus, the proportion of introgression decreased with geographic distance from the area of sympatry. Introgression was observed on all autosomes for both species, but not on the X-chromosome in M. m. domesticus, consistent with known X-linked hybrid sterility and inviability genes that have been mapped to the M. spretus X-chromosome. Tract lengths were generally short with a few outliers of up to 2.7 Mb. Interestingly, the longest introgressed tracts were in olfactory receptor regions, and introgressed tracts were significantly enriched for olfactory receptor genes in both species, suggesting that introgression may be a source of functional novelty even between species with high barriers to gene flow.
Project description:Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) is a widely used approach to study DNA methylation genome-wide. Here, we present a novel MeDIP-Seq protocol compatible with the Ion Torrent semiconductor-based sequencing platform that is scalable and accurately identifies sites of differential DNA methylation. Additionally, we demonstrate that the high-throughput data derived from MeDIP-Seq on the Ion Torrent platform provides adequate coverage of CpG cytosines, the methylation states of which we validated at single-base resolution on the Infinium HumanMethylation450K Beadchip array. We applied this integrative approach to further investigate the role of DNA methylation in alternative splicing and to profile 5-mC and 5-hmC variants of DNA methylation in normal human brain tissue that we observed localize over distinct genomic regions. These applications of MeDIP-Seq on the Ion Torrent platform have broad utility and add to the current methodologies for profiling genome-wide DNA methylation states in normal and disease conditions.
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility.