title: Methy-sens Comet assay and DNMTs transcriptional analysis as a combined approach in epigenotoxicology.
abstract: Epigenotoxicology needs simple and fast tools to assess xenobiotic epigenetic load. This work proposes a comet assay modification designed to detect global methylation changes (Methy-sens Comet) through enzymatic digestion with two restriction enzymes (HpaII, MspI). In the methylation-sensitive protocol tested for repeatability on A549 cells, nickel chloride induced hypermethylation and decitabine-induced hypomethylation. A concomitant assessment of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) genes transcriptional levels has been performed, to implement a multifunctional approach to epigenotoxicology. Methy-sens Comet showed a general good repeatability and sensitivity to methylation changes while DNMTs transcriptional levels granted additional proof of xenobiotic-induced impairment of methylome maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perotti
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buschini
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D020552:Comet Assay; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015254:DNA Modification Methylases
keywords: Comet assay; DNMT; epigenotoxicology; methylation