Mirror Bisulfite Sequencing: A Method for Single-Base Resolution of Hydroxymethylcytosine

Anal Chem. 2018 Nov 20;90(22):13200-13206. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02832. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Abstract

Although the role of 5-methylcytosine has been well studied, the biological role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine still remains unclear because of the limited methods available for single-base detection of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Here, we present mirror bisulfite sequencing for 5hmC detection at a single CpG site by synthesizing a DNA strand to mirror the parental strand. This semiconservative duplex is sequentially treated with β-glucosyltransferase and M.SssI methylase. The glucosyl-5hmCpG in the parental strand inhibits methylation of the mirroring CpG site, and after bisulfite conversion, a thymine in the mirroring strand indicates a 5hmCpG site in the parental strand, whereas a cytosine indicates a non-5hmC site. Using this method, the 5hmC levels of various human tissues and paired liver tissues were mapped genomewide.

MeSH terms

  • 5-Methylcytosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 5-Methylcytosine / analysis
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / chemistry
  • Gene Library
  • Glucosyltransferases / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods*
  • Sulfites / chemistry*

Substances

  • Sulfites
  • 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
  • 5-Methylcytosine
  • DNA
  • DNA modification methylase SssI
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • hydrogen sulfite