Detection of dna methylation

摘要

The present invention relates generally to a method of genetic fingerprinting and more particularly to a method of establishing a methylation signature for a particular eukaryotic cell or group of cells such as in the form of tissue cells or organ-specific cells. The method of the present invention exploits the sensitivity of certain restriction enzymes to methylation. Exposure of genomic or transgene DNA to these enzymes followed by amplification results in products which establish the methylation signature or profile (i.e. the methylome profile) of a cell's or group of cells' genome when compared to the amplified genome in undigested form. The method of the present invention is useful inter alia in phenotyping a cell based on its methylation signature and provides a useful tool in functional genomics and for the design of therapeutic and trait-modifying protocols, particularly for animals and plants. The present invention can also be used to identify and map junctions between methylated and unmethylated DNA. The method of the present invention is also useful for identifying DNA methylation polymorphisms which can be used inter alia in diagnosis and forensics and for identifying particular genes, the function or absence of function of which are associated with a disease condition or trait. The method is also useful for monitoring the aging process of particular cells or an animal (including a human) or plant comprising such cells as well as monitoring the pluripotent or multipotent state of stem cells and development of stem cells through to maturation.