Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that take place by chemically modifying the DNA without affecting the underlying sequence. One widely studied epigenetic modification is the methylation of DNA at cytosine residues, which usually occurs in dense clusters near transcriptional start sites and regulates gene expression. Using next-gen sequencing, the methylation profile can be captured from a genomic DNA sample of interest.
Overview of the EpiXplore Meth-Seq DNA Enrichment Kit workflow
The EpiXplore Meth-Seq DNA Enrichment Kit is a next-gen sequencing library preparation kit which separates the methylated and unmethylated genomic DNA fragments by utilizing the highly specific binding affinity of the MBD2 protein for methylated DNA. DNA enrichment is followed by library preparation using the DNA SMART method. This kit facilitates your methylated DNA-seq experiments with:
A simple protocol for enriching both methylated and unmethylated DNA from inputs of 25 ng–1 µg of fragmented genomic DNA
A streamlined workflow for generating Illumina-ready sequencing libraries from sheared genomic DNA inputs in just 6 hours
An efficient method for adding adapters without ligation or the associated cleanup, reducing the loss of limited input DNA
Results
Sensitivity and reproducibility of the enrichment protocol and downstream library preparation
The EpiXplore Meth-Seq DNA Enrichment Kit has the sensitivity to generate sequencing libraries from samples enriched for either methylated or unmethylated fractions of DNA, from inputs as low as 25 ng (see table below). Excellent and consistent mapping statistics are seen across all input levels. Library complexity was maintained in enriched samples when compared to unenriched samples: at all input levels >90% of the total reads mapped to the target genome, with >70% of the total reads mapping uniquely.
Sequencing Metrics Comparing Libraries from Methylated and Unmethylated Enrichment Fractions
Sheared genomic DNA input for enrichment (ng)
–
25
500
1,000
Enrichment fraction
Unenriched
Methylated
Unmethylated
Methylated
Unmethylated
Methylated
Unmethylated
Post-enrichment DNA input for library prep (ng)
1
1
1
1
Total reads (in millions)
2.5
2.3
2.8
2.7
3.8
2.8
3.0
No. of reads on target (in millions)
2.3
2.2
2.6
2.6
3.5
2.7
2.8
% reads mapped
92
94
94
96
93
97
94
% useful reads mapped (without duplicates)
77
74
77
70
76
67
76
No. of peaks called
318
2,950
3,390
3,672
1,227
7,372
6,518
Sequencing metrics comparing libraries from methylated- or unmethylated-DNA fractions. Methylated and unmethylated fractions were enriched from fragmented Arabidopsis thaliana genomic DNA using his-tagged MBD2 protein. 1 ng of the enriched DNA fractions was used to generate DNA SMART libraries with 15 PCR cycles. 1 ng of unenriched DNA was used as a control. Reads were mapped to the Arabidopsis genome (TAIR14) using Bowtie2 (Langmead, et al., 2012). Peak calling was performed using MACS (Zhang, et al., 2008).
Distinct differences in methylated and unmethylated regions identified by next‑gen sequencing
The sequencing data obtained from methylated and unmethylated fractions with initial inputs of 25, 500, and 1,000 ng were compared to publically available bisulfite sequencing data. The peaks identified in the methylated and unmethylated libraries correspond to distinct regions of the genome and show good correlation with the methylation patterns identified in this bisulfite sequencing data.
References
Langmead, B., et al., Fast gapped-read alignment with Bowtie 2. Nat Methods.9(4):357–359 (2012).
Stroud, H., et al., Comprehensive analysis of silencing mutants reveals complex regulation of the Arabidopsis methylome. Cell152(1–2):352–364 (2013).
Zhang, Y., et al., Model-based analysis of ChIP-Seq (MACS). Genome Biol.9(9)R137 (2008).