Epigenetically Reprogrammed Methylation Landscape Drives the DNA Self-assembly and Serves As a Universal Cancer Biomarker

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2018 Dec 6

PMID 30514834

Citations 66

Authors

Abu Ali Ibn Sina

Laura G Carrascosa

Ziyu Liang

Yadveer S Grewal

Andri Wardiana

Muhammad J A Shiddiky

Robert A Gardiner

Hemamali Samaratunga

Maher K Gandhi

Rodney J Scott

Darren Korbie

Matt Trau

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Epigenetic reprogramming in cancer genomes creates a distinct methylation landscape encompassing clustered methylation at regulatory regions separated by large intergenic tracks of hypomethylated regions. This methylation landscape that we referred to as Methylscape is displayed by most cancer types, thus may serve as a universal cancer biomarker. To-date most research has focused on the biological consequences of DNA Methylscape changes whereas its impact on DNA physicochemical properties remains unexplored. Herein, we examine the effect of levels and genomic distribution of methylcytosines on the physicochemical properties of DNA to detect the Methylscape biomarker. We find that DNA polymeric behaviour is strongly affected by differential patterning of methylcytosine, leading to fundamental differences in DNA solvation and DNA-gold affinity between cancerous and normal genomes. We exploit these Methylscape differences to develop simple, highly sensitive and selective electrochemical or colorimetric one-step assays for the detection of cancer. These assays are quick, i.e., analysis time ≤10 minutes, and require minimal sample preparation and small DNA input.

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