Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have identified two protein domains (MBD and CxxC) proven to isolate methylated and non-methylated CpG islands (CGIs), respectively.

This technology can be used to investigate the methylation status of all human CpG islands during development and disease.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have identified two protein domains (MBD and CxxC) proven to isolate methylated and non-methylated CpG islands (CGIs), respectively.  Using these proteins, a novel CGI enrichment technology, has been devised and proven to identify and separate bona fide CGIs.

Aberrant DNA methylation of “CpG islands” CGIs “silences” the associated gene and has been extensively documented in Cancer.

Edinburgh researchers have devised a novel CGI enrichment method based on CpG affinity chromatography (CAP).  221,860 of the separated (non-methylated) CGIs have been cloned and sequenced demonstrating that this technology identifies a significant number of CGIs that fail the NCBI strict criteria.

A micoarray, representing over 17,000 CGIs, demonstrated that overrepresentation of tissue specific methylation at numerous genetic loci is essential for development.

This CpG affinity chromatography technology has been successfully proven to specifically isolate methylated and non-methylated CGIs as required.

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Early Stage

A patent entitled “Applications of Nucleic Acid Fragments“ (Ref No. PCT\GB2005\004202) was filed on 29/10/2004.  Territories covered by this patent are Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and Canada.

This technology is available to license in the field of CpG analysis services or to manufacture and sell a complete human CpG research reagents and diagnostic tools.