Project description:We report a high-throughput and low-cost targeted bisulfite sequencing method called TIME-Seq for discovery and assay of DNA methylation clocks. Data is related to the initial publication of TIME-Seq clocks and shallow sequencing-based predictions using scAge. Demultiplexing information as well as more detailed metadata for each sample in the pools will be posted at: https://github.com/patricktgriffin/TIME-Seq
Project description:Age-associated DNA methylation reflects aspect of biological aging - therefore epigenetic clocks for mice can help to elucidate the impact of treatments or genetic background on the aging process in this model organism. Initially, age-predictors for mice were trained for genome-wide DNA methylation profiles and we have recently described a targeted assay based on pyrosequencing of DNA methylation at only three CG dinucleotides (CpGs). Here, we have re-evaluated pyrosequencing approaches in comparison to droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and barcoded bisulfite amplicon sequencing (BBA-seq). At individual CpGs the correlation of DNA methylation with chronological age was slightly higher for pyrosequencing and ddPCR as compared to BBA-seq. On the other hand, BBA-seq revealed that neighboring CpGs tend to be stochastically modified at murine age-associated regions. Furthermore, the binary sequel of methylated and non-methylated CpGs in individual reads can be used for single-read predictions, which may reflect heterogeneity in epigenetic aging. In comparison to C57BL/6 mice the epigenetic age-predictions using BBA-seq were also accelerated in the shorter-lived DBA/2 mice, and in C57BL/6 mice with a lifespan quantitative trait locus of DBA/2 mice. Taken together, we describe further optimized and alternative targeted methods to determine epigenetic clocks in mice.