title: A semi-quantitative assay of overall DNA methylation status using Methyl-CpG binding protein (MBD1).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In mammals, DNA methylation at the 5-position of cytosine is the most essential epigenetic modification. Changes in the level of genome-wide DNA methylation (also known as overall DNA methylation) are associated with alterations in gene expression, thereby contributing to the phenotypic and physiological diversity. Current technologies for detecting overall DNA methylation either suffer from low sensitivity or require sophisticated equipment. Studies on domestic animals are hampered by the lack of complete and annotated genomic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we report a rapid slot blot method using methyl-CpG binding protein (MBD1) to exam the level of overall DNA methylation in pigs and chickens. Using this rapid approach, we determined the methylation status in various DNA samples of a Chinese indigenous (Erhualian) and a Western (Large White) breed of pigs. We also chose day 18 embryos (E18) and newly hatched chicks (D1) of a Chinese indigenous chicken breed (Wen's yellow-feathered broiler chicken) for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis. The results revealed tissue- and breed-specific differences, as well as age-dependent variations, in the level of overall DNA methylation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the slot blot assay is a sensitive, highly specific and convenient method for semi-quantitative estimation of overall DNA methylation with no species specificity. This method does not require sophisticated equipment, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), or expensive technologies like sequencing, thus providing a useful tool for overall DNA methylation studies on domestic animals.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Runsheng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ruqian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D018899:CpG Islands; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004247:DNA