Methylation of DNA

• Methyl groups?(-CH₃)?can be directly added to DNA to?change the activity?of a gene
• DNA methylation commonly involves the direct addition of a?methyl group to cytosine bases?which can influence gene expression
• Methylation of DNA?suppresses the transcription?of the affected gene by?inhibiting the binding?of transcription factors
  • Cells use this mechanism to?lock genes in the ‘off’?position

DNA methylation involves the addition of a methyl group to a cytosine nucleotide

Analysing DNA Methylation Patterns

• DNA methylation?varies throughout a lifetime?and can be affected by environmental, lifestyle or age-related factors
• Changes in DNA methylation are observed in genetic diseases like?cancer
• DNA methylation can be used as a?biomarker?to identify cancer related genes
  • This could help?develop therapeutics?to improve early diagnosis of disease
• Numerous methods are available to identify?which cytosine bases?have been methylated
• Analysis of methylation patterns?between a disease and non-disease state can help identify disease marker genes

DNA Methylation analysis showing reduced methylation of tumour-specific genes in cancerous cells.? Reduced methylation results in genes always being ‘switched on’ which can lead to cancer