methBLAST and methPrimerDB: web-tools for PCR based methylation analysis

Background: DNA methylation plays an important role in development and tumorigenesis by epigenetic modification and silencing of critical genes. The development of PCR-based methylation assays on bisulphite modified DNA heralded a breakthrough in speed and sensitivity for gene methylation analysis. Despite this technological advancement, these approaches require a cumbersome gene by gene primer design and experimental validation. Bisulphite DNA modification results in sequence alterations (all unmethylated cytosines are converted into uracils) and a general sequence complexity reduction as cytosines become underrepresented. Consequently, standard BLAST sequence homology searches cannot be applied to search for specific methylation primers. Results: To address this problem we developed methBLAST, a sequence similarity search program, based on the original BLAST algorithm but querying in silico bisulphite modified genome sequences to evaluate oligonucleotide sequence similarities. Apart...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2006
• Where: BMCBI
• Authors: Filip Pattyn, Jasmien Hoebeeck, Piet Robbrecht, Evi Michels, Anne De Paepe, Guy Bottu, David Coornaert, Robert Herzog, Frank Speleman, Jo Vandesompele
• Keywords: BMCBI 2006, Gene, Methylation, PCR-based Methylation