Global DNA methylation: comparison of enzymatic- and non-enzymatic-based methods

作者:Rocha Monica S*; Castro Rita; Rivera Isabel; Kok Robert M; Smulders Yvo M; Jakobs Cornelis; de Almeida Isabel Tavares; Blom Henk J
来源:Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 2010, 48(12): 1793-1798.
DOI:10.1515/CCLM.2010.346

摘要

Background: The most frequently used methods for measuring global DNA methylation are based on two different principles: the use of methylation-sensitive restriction endonucleases followed by analysis of the obtained fragments, or the hydrolysis of genomic DNA followed by specific detection and quantification of the 5-methylcytosine content. We aimed to compare two different methods for evaluation of global DNA methylation: the cytosine extension assay after enzymatic digestion of DNA (Cyt-Ext), and a recently described method using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry after DNA hydrolysis (LC-MS/MS).
Methods: Both approaches were applied to evaluate global DNA methylation in leukocyte DNA from 96 healthy subjects. Calf thymus and pBR322 DNAs were used as hyper- and hypo-methylated references, respectively.
Results: Using the Cyt-Ext method, the DNA from healthy individuals showed radiolabel incorporation of 11,312 +/- 1600 Dpm/mu g DNA, while the LC-MS/MS method showed 4.55 +/- 0.1% methylation. Results are shown as mean +/- SD. The analysis of hypo- and hyper-methylated references showed that both methods are practical for discriminating different levels of methylation.
Conclusions: Cyt-Ext and LC-MS/MS are viable methods in evaluating global DNA methylation status. However, the LC-MS/MS assay allows absolute quantification and displays far superior intra-day precision. Therefore, we consider the later approach to be better for use in global DNA methylation studies. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010; 48:1793-8.