title: Sequence-selective modification of DNA cytosine by using junction-forming DNA probes and its application to the detection of single cytosine methylation.
abstract: Methylated DNA plays an important role in epigenetic gene regulation, and could therefore serve as a potentially promising biomarker for the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. Therefore, the development of a simple method for analyzing cytosine methylation in a target gene is required. Here, we report on a new method for the sequence-selective chemical modification of a single cytosine in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). This method is based on the formation of a DNA three-way junction of the ssDNA and two ssDNA probes, and was successfully applied for a simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for 'pinpoint' methylation analysis.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bionics, Computer and Media Sciences, Tokyo University of Technology.
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takanashi
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D003596:Cytosine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D003596:Cytosine