Global DNA Methylation Detection System Using MBD-Fused Luciferase Based on Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Assay

Anal Chem. 2016 Sep 20;88(18):9264-8. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b02565. Epub 2016 Aug 26.

Abstract

DNA methylation plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. In normal cells, transposable elements that constitute approximately 45% of the human genome are highly methylated to silence their expression. In cancer cells, transposable elements are hypomethylated; therefore, global DNA methylation level is considered as a biomarker for cancer diagnostics. In this study, a homogeneous assay for measuring global DNA methylation level based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) was developed using methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD)-fused luciferase. In this assay, the MBD-luciferase recognizes methylated CpG, thus, BRET between the luciferase and fluorescent DNA intercalating dye is detected. We demonstrated that the BRET signal depended on the DNA methylation level of the target DNA. Moreover, the BRET signal was correlated with the LINE1 DNA methylation level on human genomic DNA, as determined by the bisulfite method. These results indicate that the global DNA methylation level of human genomic DNA could be detected simply by measuring the BRET signal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Energy Transfer*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / chemistry
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Protein Domains
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Luciferases