Epigenetics is one of the most rapidly expanding fields in biology, which plays important roles in environmental pollutant-induced neurotoxicity. Analyses of epigenetic modification is of great significance in providing more accurate information for the risk assessment and management of harmful factors. However, few studies have systematically summarized the analysis and detection methods for epigenetic modification. In this chapter, we summarized several popular methods for analyses of epigenetic modifications, including Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (MeDIP-Seq) for genome-wide DNA methylation analyses, Quantitative Methylation Specific PCR (qMSP) for genome-specific DNA methylation analyses, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) for genome-wide RNA methylation analyses, MeRIP-qPCR for genome-specific RNA methylation analyses, qRT-PCR for the non-coding RNA, and western blot for the histone modification analyses. It could be helpful to the research about environmental epigenetic toxicology.
Keywords: Chromatin structure; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Histone modifications; Neurotoxicology; Non-coding RNA; RNA methylation.