Spreadsheet-Based Program for the Analysis of DNA Methylation

oleh: Ramaswamy Anbazhagan, James G. Herman, Kalyan Enika, Edward Gabrielson

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Future Science Ltd 2001-01-01

Deskripsi

Methylation of DNA in CpG dense regions of gene promoters (CpG islands) is important for transcriptional inactivation of selective genes in normal and neoplastic cells. Here, we present a spreadsheet-based program adapted from Microsoft® Excel® that is useful for identifying CpG islands and for assisting in the laboratory analysis of DNA methylation of these regions. Upon execution of the program, a customized workbook analyzes an entered DNA sequence for the total number and percentage cytosine and guanine nucleotides, the total number and percentage of CpG sites, and a CpG:GpC ratio. The program also displays the distribution of CpG sites in a visual format as well as in two different graphical formats. Finally, the program assists in laboratory studies of DNA methylation that employ bisulfite modification of DNA by displaying methylation-dependent effects of bisulfite treatment on DNA sequences.