Triplex-mediated analysis of cytosine methylation at CpA sites in DNA

M. W. Johannsen, S. R. Gerrard, T. Melvin and T. Brown. Chem. Commun. 50, 551-553, 2014.

Abstract

Modified triplex-forming oligonucleotides distinguish 5-methyl cytosine from unmethylated cytosine in DNA duplexes by differences in triplex melting temperatures. The discrimination is sequence-specific; dramatic differences in stabilisation are seen for CpA methylation, whereas CpG methylation is not detected. This direct detection of DNA methylation constitutes a new approach for epigenetic analysis.