DNA–Methylation Analysis

Bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq) are two commonly used methods for the detection of methylated cytosines in DNA sequences. DNA methylation plays a role in the regulation of gene expressions by recruiting proteins involved in gene repression and in the deregulation of gene expressions by inhibiting the binding of transcription factors to enhancer regions. This information, together with other epigenetic markers, helps to better understand gene regulatory networks. In addition, studying differentially methylated regions among multiple samples (tissues, cells, or individuals in case–control studies) could serve to identify DNA functional regions involved in gene transcriptional regulation.