Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
  • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
  • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
  • C12N15/10—Processes for the isolation, preparation or purification of DNA or RNA
  • C12N15/1034—Isolating an individual clone by screening libraries
  • C12N15/1093—General methods of preparing gene libraries, not provided for in other subgroups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
  • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
  • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
  • C12N15/10—Processes for the isolation, preparation or purification of DNA or RNA
  • C12N15/1034—Isolating an individual clone by screening libraries
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
  • C12Q1/00—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions
  • C12Q1/68—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions involving nucleic acids
  • C12Q1/6813—Hybridisation assays
  • C12Q1/6834—Enzymatic or biochemical coupling of nucleic acids to a solid phase
  • C12Q1/6837—Enzymatic or biochemical coupling of nucleic acids to a solid phase using probe arrays or probe chips
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
  • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
  • G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
  • G01N33/5308—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10S436/807—Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures
  • Y10S436/809—Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method of isolating fragments of nucleic acid according to the density of CpG dinucleotides and subsequent procedures for producing a library and/or an array or microarray of these fragments, as well as uses thereof.
• the target DNA sequence of this methylation modification is the dinucleotide 5'CpG3', also referred to as the CpG dinucleotide, which is self-complementary and occurs in symmetrical pairs.
• CpG dinucleotides In the human genome, approximately 70% of CpG dinucleotides are methylated in most cell types. In particular clusters of non-methylated CpG dinucleotides called CpG islands occur at the transcriptional start sites of 56% of human genes. These CpG islands are generally between 1 and 2Kbp in length. Altogether these CpG island clusters account for about 2% of the genome. CpG moieties in the remaining 98% of the genome are sparsely distributed and approximately 80% of the CpG pairs located therein are methylated. Because of the high cytosine-guanine frequency of CpG islands, it is possible to identify them without knowledge of the methylation pattern of the DNA. Using this bioinformatic criterion, the human genome project has estimated that there are about 30,000 CpG islands per genome.
• Promoters and transcription start sites of most mammalian genes comprise CpG islands. Normally CpG dinucleotide pairs within a CpG island are non-methylated and as a result, the gene associated with the CpG island is transcribable, though not necessarily transcribed. Almost all of the CpG islands within the inactive X-chromosome of cells derived from female humans are heavily methylated and condensed, with the exception of the Xist gene which remains unmethylated at its 5' CpG island. This corresponds to the activity of the Xist gene which is required for the initial propagation of the inactive state.
• genes for example ⁇ -globulin pseudogene are methylated at the cytosine nucleotides and are seen to loose a large proportion of the CpG dinucleotides over time but gain 5'TG3' dinucleotides.
• CpG island methylation occurs when genes are shut down irrevocably during development as may occur with, for example, certain genes on the inactive X-chromosome, for example phosphoglycerate kinase 1 , and at imprinted genes for example insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor gene (Ig ⁇ r), H19.
• Unscheduled CpG island methylation may also occur as a result of disease and has been extensively documented in conditions such as cancer: for example, shut down of the RB genes causes Retinoblastoma, and silencing of the MLHl gene causes increased mutability that promotes several tumour types.
• genes of this kind are usually lost through the occurrence of inactivating mutations, it is apparent that they can also be silenced by DNA methylation.
• CpG island methylation is the silencing of the FMRI gene in fragile X syndrome, which is the most common genetic form of mental retardation affecting males.
• CpG island methylation in disease, there have been suggestions that other common conditions (schizophrenia, arthritis, autoimmune diseases) might also have a similar basis.
• CpG island library may significantly facilitate research into the methylation patterns of these CpG islands in diseases such as those detailed above.
• CpG island nucleic acid fragments may be isolated using a peptide which is capable of binding exclusively to non-methylated CpG dinucleotides.
• a method of isolating CpG island nucleic acid fragments comprising the steps of; a) obtaining a sample of nucleic acid from an organism; b) fragmenting the nucleic acid sample; c) contacting said nucleic acid fragments with a peptide which is capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs; d) separating unbound nucleic acid fragments from bound nucleic acid fragments; and e) detaching bound nucleic acid fragments from said peptide;
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs is complexed to (coupled/otherwise associated with) an appropriate support, for example a solid support.
• an appropriate support for example a solid support.
• the peptide may be coupled to /associated with said solid support by, for example, covalent, ionic or hydrophobic interactions.
• the solid support may, for example, be agarose, sepharose, polyacrylamide, agarose/polyacrylamide co-polymers, dextran, cellulose, polypropylene, polycarbonate, nitocellulose, glass paper or any other suitable substance capable of providing a suitable solid support.
• the solid support may be in the form of granules, a powder or a gel suitable for use in chromatography such as those available from Amersham Biosciences.
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs comprises at least a portion of the CpG Binding Domain protein 1 (MBDl) which retains the ability to bind CpG dinucleotide pairs.
• MBDl CpG Binding Domain protein 1
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs comprises the cysteine rich CxxC-3 domain of the MBDl transcriptional repressor (J ⁇ rgensen, 2004).
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs comprises the MBDl transcriptional repressor.
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs may be provided by a peptide or fragment thereof, homologous to the MBDl transcriptional repressor. (Lee et al, 2001 and Birke et al, 2002).
• homologous refers to a polypeptide, or fragment thereof that retains the means of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs and shares a degree of sequence identity/similarity with the naturally occurring MBDl transcriptional repressor and in particular the CxxC-3 domain. It is well known to one of skill in the art that the quaternary and tertiary structure of a polypeptide is usually highly conserved such that the specific function of that polypeptide is also retained. It is also well known that the primary structure of a peptide may exhibit considerable variation in its sequence without resulting in a significant decrease in the activity of the mature peptide.
• an homologous peptide useful in the present invention may share only, for example, 25% amino acid sequence identity with the MBDl polypeptide when the conserved residues of the two peptides are aligned.
• the polypeptide of the present invention capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs may include polypeptides or fragments thereof which show 25%, preferably 40%, more preferably 60% even more preferably 75% and most preferably 90% or 95% sequence identity with the MBDl transcriptional repressor. It is also to be understood that there are potentially a number of "conservative substitutions" which may occur within the primary sequence of the peptide which is capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs.
• conservative substitution it is meant the replacement of an amino acid residue and/or residues with an amino acid residue and/or residues which do not substantially differ in terms of physical and chemical properties from the naturally occurring amino acid residue and or residues. These “conservative substitutions” will have substantially no effect on the function of the peptide.
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs preferentially binds those CpG dinucleotide pairs which are unmethylated.
• unmethylated refers to CpG dinucleotide pairs that lack modification by way of the addition of a methyl group to the 5' cytosine nucleotide which would otherwise yield 5- methylcytosine.
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs is coupled to the solid support.
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs further comprises a binding moiety providing a means of coupling said peptide to the solid support.
• a binding moiety could be for example a peptide or other small chemical moiety, for example biotin/streptavidin
• the binding moiety is a peptide fused to the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs.
• the resultant peptide fusion may be produced by recombinant means.
• the binding moiety may be conjugated to the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs.
• the binding moiety may comprise any of the oligopeptides His n where n is 4-20, preferably n is 5-10 and more preferably n is 6.
• Such oligopeptides have a high affinity for divalent nickel (Ni), enabling the polypeptide to be coupled to the nickel chelating resin Ni 2+ -NTA -agarose.
• dinucleotides::His n are generally available from Merck Biosciences (Novagen ® ) and include,
• the binding moiety may comprise a glutathione S-transferase (GST).
• GST has a high affinity for glutathione which may be coupled to a solid support such as, for example, sepharose 4B.
• Exemplary vectors suitable for expressing a peptide capable of binding CpG nucleotide pairs: :binding moiety fusion are generally available from Amersham Biosciences and include pGEX- 4T-2, pGEX-6P-l and pGEX-4T-3.
• any small molecule capable of being immobilised on a solid support such as those substantially described above may be suitable for immobilising a peptide capable of binding CpG nucleotide pairs.
• small molecule it is to be understood that molecules with a M r of less than 2000 are envisaged useful.
• a peptide capable of binding CpG nucleotide pairs may be labelled with, for example, biotin and contacted to a suitable solid support, for example agarose, to which a molecule such as streptavidin is coupled.
• a suitable solid support for example agarose
• streptavidin a molecule such as streptavidin
• the peptide capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs may be chemically cross-linked to the solid support.
• the peptides capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs may be chemically cross-linked to the solid support by means of, for example, activation of the solid support by the addition of cyanogen bromide (CNBr) as disclosed by Axen et al (1967). Briefly upon addition of CNBr the solid support reacts rapidly at pH 8-9 with free amino acid groups in the polypeptide to be cross-linked to the solid support.
• the solid support for use in this way is agarose, for example CNBr-activated agarose.
• the peptide which is capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs may be coupled to the solid support by means of an antibody or fragment thereof which specifically reacts with a portion of said peptide.
• the antibody is coupled to the suitable solid support.
• the antibody or fragments thereof useful in this way may be monoclonal antibodies or fragments which have an affinity for the peptide which is capable of binding CpG dinucleotide pairs.
• the techniques of monoclonal antibody production are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• CpG island nucleic acid fragments may also be desirable to isolate CpG island nucleic acid fragments from a variety of organisms.
• Samples of nucleic acid for example DNA
• the methods of the present invention may also be applicable to samples isolated from plant material. Plant genomes are heavily methylated at CpG, but it has been shown that plant genes can be greatly enriched from genomic DNA by selecting non-methylated DNA that is equivalent to the CpG islands of animals (Whitelaw et al, 2003; Palmer et al, 2003). The present invention may therefore be used for gene isolation from genomes of many plant species.
• a sample of a nucleic acid may be obtained from, for example cells grown in vitro, or in vivo or a tissue biopsy or where appropriate, may include blood, saliva or any other suitable sample from which nucleic acid may be obtained.
• the sample obtained should yield nucleic acid which accurately reflects the methylation status of the patient's 5'CP3' islands, said methylation status arising as a result of a subject's disease state i.e. healthy, having a particular disease or predisposed to/developing a disease.
• the sample may, if possible, comprise a tissue biopsy obtained directly from the tumour or from cells neighbouring the tumour.
• the sample may at least comprise cells derived from the same tissue affected by the disease.
• Techniques of DNA extraction from cells are well known and may comprise, for example, the use of lipid membrane solubilising agents, e.g. detergents and protesase enzymes. Substances which cause nucleic acid to precipitate, for example ethanol, may then be used to isolate the nucleic acid (see for example Sambrook et al).
• the nucleic acid obtained from the sample may be fragmented using restriction endonuclease enzymes, for example Hindlll, EcoRl, BamHl and Pstl .
• restriction endonuclease enzymes may be used individually to fragment the nucleic acid sample, or alternatively a number of restriction endonuclease enzymes could be used in combination.
• nucleic acid fragmentation may include, sonic disruption of the nucleic acid or the use of shearing forces.
• unbound material for example fragmented nucleic acid, preferably absent of any CpG islands or possessing solely methylated CpG islands, remain unbound to the solid support media.
• the solid substrate may be washed, for example, and an osmotically balanced and neutral solution such as e.g. phosphate buffered saline (PBS), may be applied to the solid support media such that unbound material is removed.
• PBS phosphate buffered saline
• a sodium chloride gradient may be established within a resin, such as a nickel chelating resin, for example NTA-agarose, packed within an affinity chromatography column, such that particular fragments of nucleic acid are caused to be separated from the column upon contact with a particular concentration of sodium chloride.
• a resin such as a nickel chelating resin, for example NTA-agarose
• affinity chromatography column such that particular fragments of nucleic acid are caused to be separated from the column upon contact with a particular concentration of sodium chloride.
• Other means of separation include the use of reduced glutathione solutions in the case of GST affinity chromatography, alterations in pH or enzymatic cleavage.
• steps c) and d) of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention may be repeated.
• steps c) and d) of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention may be repeated.
• substantially all the nucleic acid fragments containing CpG islands may be isolated while ensuring that contamination with nucleic acid fragments not containing CpG islands or methylated CpG islands is significantly reduced.
• a peptide/support complex comprising a solid support and a peptide which is capable of binding CpG nucleotide pairs, for isolating CpG island nucleic acid fragments.
• a method of producing a CpG island library comprising the steps of; a) isolating CpG island nucleic acid fragments in accordance with the first and/or second aspect of the present invention; and b) cloning the isolated fragments into a suitable vector;
• the fragments may be cloned into suitable vectors by many methods, all of which are known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
• the nucleic acid fragments dissociated from the solid support may be added to a suitable vector in the presence of a DNA ligating enzyme, such as, for example T4 ligase and left to incubate for a period of a DNA ligating enzyme, such as, for example T4 ligase and left to incubate for a period of
• cloning and sequencing vectors such as TOPO pCR4, available form Invitrogen lifesciences, or other such ligase free systems, may be used to clone fragments of nucleic acid in preparation for subsequent amplification by PCR and/or sequencing.
• the cloned fragments of the CpG island library of the present invention may be sequenced.
• the techniques of nucleic acid sequencing are well known in the art and may include Sanger's method of dideoxynucleotide sequencing.
• a method of producing a CpG island library array comprising the steps of; a) amplifying the nucleic acid fragments of the CpG library produced in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention; b) denaturing the amplified nucleic acid fragments; and c) coupling, in an array, the denatured nucleic acid fragments to a suitable library array substrate.
• the cloned CpG island nucleic acid fragments of the CpG island library are amplified by use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Again, such techniques are well know and described for example in Sambrook et al.
• the cloned CpG island nucleic acid fragments of the CpG island nucleic acid library may be excised from the suitable vector into which they have been cloned, by use of a restriction endonuclease, additionally or alternatively a combination of restriction endonuclease enzymes may be used.
• a restriction endonuclease or combination of restriction endonuclease enzymes, fragment the vector at a point either side of the cloned CpG island nucleic acid fragment.
• the amplified nucleic acid fragments may be denatured so as create fragments of single stranded nucleic acid.
• the amplified nucleic acid fragments are subjected to heat treatment, for example incubated for a period of time in a boiling water bath or heating block, such that the fragments of double stranded DNA are caused to dissociate to single stranded fragments.
• the CpG island array may be produced by synthesising oligonucleotides which are specific to the nucleic acid fragments of the CpG island produced in accordance with the present invention and coupling, in an array, the oligonucleotides to a suitable library array substrate.
• arrays need not be produced covering the entire genome. It is possible using the present method to prepare arrays based on portions of the genome including, for example, one or more chromosomes (including mitochondrial DNA as being representative of a chromosome).
• the present inventors have obtained library of CpG island fragments and cloned and sequenced them (see Table 1). This shows that a library produced according to the present methods is much more representative than librarys obtained following prior art methods, such as described in Cross et al (1994).
• the present invention provides libraries comprising CpG island specific nucleic acid sequences derived from the clones identified in Table 1.
• a method of making a CpG island array comprising the steps of: preparing one or more CpG island specific sequence(s) using the information derived from Table 1 ; and binding in an array said one or more sequences to a substrate.
• the library may comprise sequence from one or more clones, e.g. more than 1 ,000,
• the present invention also provides use of the information derived from Table 1 in the preparation of a CpG island library and/or array.
• the sequences may be obtained, for example, by recombinant or synthetic means.
• the library of CpG islands is arranged in an array, preferably a microarray.
• the array or microarray is prepared on any suitable, preferably non-porous substrate.
• the suitable substrate may include glass or a plastics materials.
• Information regarding suitable substrates and the protocols used to generate arrays or microarrays may be obtained from the National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda USA. Generally the surface of the suitable microarray substrate is treated in someway so that the fragmented nucleic acid may be coupled to it.
• the surface of the suitable substrate may be made hydrophobic so as to prevent spread of individual nucleic acid samples applied to the microarray substrate and positively charged so as to facilitate the coupling of the fragmented nucleic acid to the microarray substrates.
• a hydrophobic/positively charged surface may be obtained by use of a substance such as poly- L-lysine.
• the amplified nucleic acid fragments may be spotted on to the surface as an array.
• Preferably automated printing procedures known in the art may be utilised to apply the amplified nucleic acid fragments as an array.
• the methods of producing a CpG library and an array or microarray as substantially described herein result in a library of CpG island fragments which accurately represent substantially all of the CpG islands in the genome of the organism being investigated.
• the resultant library and/or array or microarray may provide a means of probing the entire complement of CpG islands for modifications which may result in aberrant gene expression.
• arrays may be provided which accurately represent substantially all of the CcpG islands from a specific portion or portions of a genome, such as a chromosome or chromosomes.
• Modifications include, for example, the methylation of CpG dinucleotide pairs resulting in the silencing of genes associated with the CpG island.
• Other modifications may include the removal of methyl groups from CpG islands such that genes silenced by methylation may suddenly, through removal of the methyl modification, become active.
• a CpG island library array preferably a microarray obtainable by the method according to the fourth aspect.
• the CpG island library microarray may provide a means of determining the methylation status of nucleic acid isolated from e.g. a subject possessing a specific disease. In this way it may be possible to obtain an accurate profile of those genes that have been modulated by addition or removal of methyl groups.
• a method of determining methylation patterns of CpG islands in a nucleic acid sample comprising the steps of; a) obtaining a sample of nucleic acid from a subject; b) subjecting the sample to the method of CpG island fragment isolation as described in the first and/or second aspect of the present invention; d) amplifying the isolated fragmented CpG island nucleic acid fragments optionally in the presence of a label (e.g.
• the sample may be from any suitable human or non human subject, for example plants, horses, pigs or chickens (see above) and in the form of a tissue biopsy or, for example, a fluid sample, for example blood, saliva or the like.
• the sample may comprise cells.
• a sample may be obtained using sterile swabs, scalpels or the like to scrape or wipe across a particular tissue surface, for example the skin or the cheek or palate inside the buccal cavity.
• Cross et al. , 2000 disclose the use of short oligonucleotide catch-linker molecules to facilitate the amplification of small amounts of nucleic acid.
• CpG island nucleic acid fragments isolated in accordance with the first and/or second aspect of the present invention may be ligated to catch-linker oligonucleotides. Ligation of isolated CpG nucleotide fragments to catch-linker oligonucleotides permits the amplification of said fragments by PCR. Additionally or alternatively, random oligonucleotide primers may be used to amplify the isolated CpG island fragments.
• radiolab led nucleotides may be used in a PCR reaction to obtain amplified DNA fragments which are capable of being detected.
• fluorescent, colourmetric or chemilluminescent tagged nucleotides may also be used.
• fluorochromes such as Cy3 and Cy5 may be used to label the amplified DNA fragments.
• the DNA fragments may be contacted with the array or microarray of the present invention by means of a hybridisation procedure.
• the optionally labelled nucleic acid fragments may be hybridised to the suitable microarray surface using conditions suitable to cause hybridisation of the DNA fragments to the suitable microarray substrate.
• the hybridisation conditions under which DNA fragments bind to microarray substrates are well known in the art. Briefly, various combinations of temperature, salt concentration and incubation time are used dependant upon the length and AT:: GC content of the DNA fragments being hybridised. (McCarthy & Church, 1970; McKeon et al., 1982; McKim & Hawley, 1995; McKnight & Kingsbury, 1982 and McNally et al., 2000)
• Detection of bound fragmented DNA fragments may be achieved by any suitable means. If, for example, fluorochromes such as Cy3 and Cy5 are used the microarray, these may be subjected to light generated by a laser typically of wavelengths about 525nm and
• the microarray may be viewed under a microscope and wherever hybridisation between a DNA fragment obtained from a sample of diseased tissue hybridises with a DNA fragment within the CpG library microarray, a fluorescing spot will be visible.
• control sample it is meant a sample of nucleic acid, derived from tissue, blood, saliva or any other suitable source, from a patient possessing a normal CpG island methylation pattern.
• normal it is meant a methylation patter typical of that possessed by a healthy individual Using this technique it may be possible to compare the methylation pattern of CpG islands in diseased tissue with that from normal healthy tissue.
• a further way of determining methylation patterns of CpG islands in a nucleic acid sample comprising the steps of; a) isolating CpG island nucleic acid fragments using a material capable of binding methyl CpG, such as according to the method of Cross et al, 1994; b) amplifying the isolated fragmented CpG island nucleic acid fragments optionally in the presence of a label (e.g.
• Cross et al., 2000 disclose the use of an affinity matrix that contains the methyl-CpG binding domain from the rat chromosomal protein MeCP2, attached to a solid support. A column containing this matrix fractionates DNA according to its degree of CpG methylation, strongly retaining those sequences that are highly methylated.
• a method of determining whether or not an agent is capable of modulating the methylation pattern of CpG islands comprising the steps of; a) contacting a cell or cells with an agent; b) obtaining a nucleic acid sample from said cell or cells; c) isolating the CpG island nucleic acid fragments from the nucleic acid sample in accordance with a first and/or second aspect of the present invention; d) applying the nucleic acid fragments obtained to the array or microarray of the present invention; e) detecting the bound fragments; and f) comparing the results with those obtained from a control sample not treated with the agent.
• agents which are capable of modulating the methylation status of CpG islands For example, it may be desirable to remove a methyl group from a CpG island in order that a gene may become reactivated, alternatively it may be desirable to identify an agent capable of silencing a gene by methylation of the associated CpG island. Agents identified by this method may be potentially beneficial in the treatment of diseases such as, for example, cancer, schizophrenia, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and auto immune diseases.
• an alternative method of determining the methylation pattern of CpG islands in diseased tissue comprising the steps of; a) obtaining a sample of nucleic acid from a subject
• the simultaneous extraction of methylated CpG islands using the method of Cross et al, 1994 and the method of obtaining unmethylated CpG islands as described herein followed by the subsequent labelling and simultaneous hybridisation of the resultant fragments to the array or microarray of the present invention may facilitate the determination of the methylation status of CpG islands in certain diseases.
• the methods and apparatus of the present invention may also be used analytically to identify the CpG methylation status of any DNA fragment.
• Genomic DNA from any source may be applied, for example, to two separate small volume columns (for example spun columns known in the art) that contain, respectively, an immobilised peptide of the present invention, preferably the peptide comprising the CxxC-3 domain of MBDl, which is capable of binding non-methylated DNA and an immobilised peptide capable of binding methylated CpG islands, such as the methyl-CpG binding domain taught by Cross et al 1994.
• the "methylated" column will have retained densely methylated DNA (for example CpG islands), whereas the column of the present invention will have retained CpG-rich non-methylated DNA (for example non- methylated CpG islands).
• a method of identifying transcription factor gene targets comprising the steps of; a) obtaining a sample from a subject; b) subjecting the sample to the method of Weinmann, A. S. et al., 2002; c) contacting the labelled nucleic acid with the microarray of the present invention.
• Weinmann, A. S. et al., 2002 disclose a method for identifying the gene targets of transcription factors.
• nucleic acid is caused to crosslink with proteins capable of binding nucleic acid, for example chromatin, by the addition of, for example, a chemical such as formaldehyde.
• nucleic acid/protein fragments are then isolated by cellular disruption by means of, for example, sonication or the use of a French Press.
• Antibodies specifically reactive to a nucleic acid binding protein, or transcription factor of interest are then contacted with the nucleic acid/protein complexes.
• Techniques such as affinity chromatography may be used to recover the antibody/nucleic acid/protein complexes.
• Affinity chromatography may involve the use of compounds capable of binding antibodies for example protein A and/or antibodies.
• the nucleic acid of the antibody/nucleic acid/protein complex is then removed from the complex by means of reversing the crosslinks formed by the addition of formaldehyde.
• the removed nucleic acid is then applied to the microarray of the present invention. In this way the target genes that are likely to be regulated by the protein capable of binding nucleic acid, for example a transcription factor, may be identified.
• FIG. 1 A linear diagram of the methyl-CpG binding protein MBDl .
• the methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD), the three CxxC domains (I, II and III) and the transcriptional repression domain (TRD) are indicated.
• Below the diagram is a blow-up of the CxxC-III domain of MBDl showing its amino acid sequence (top line).
• the aligned sequences of related domains in other proteins are shown immediately below.
• the CxxC-I and -II domains of MBDl are shown at the bottom; unlike CxxC-III, these two domains show no binding specificity for 5'CG3'. Black shading denotes completely identical amino acid residues.
• Figure 2 a) Purification of the bacterially expressed CxxC domain on a nickel agarose affinity column. The 17kDa protein fragment predominantly elutes in the first elution wash (El) and less so in the later washes (E2-5). The protein binds quantitatively to the nickel affinity column as it is absent in the flowthrough (FT) and first column wash (Wl); b) Schematic diagram of the strategy used to prepare a CpG island fraction from genomic DNA. Genomic DNA containing a non-methylated (grey lollipops) CpG island and surrounding methylated (black lollipops) bulk genomic DNA is cleaved with Msel at TTAA sites. The resulting fragments are passed over or incubated with the CxxC matrix so that DNA rich in non-methylated CpGs binds. Unbound DNA is washed away, after which bound CpG island fragments are washed off the matrix;
• Figure 3 Test of the CxxC column on human genomic DNA. a) Separation of methylated and non-methylated XIST CpG islands on the active (X a ) and inactive (Xj) X chromosomes. The gradient of increasing salt elutes methylated XIST at relatively low salt (male and female) and non-methylated XIST (female only) at high salt.
• Figure 4 DNA sequence analysis of a putative CpG island library made according to the strategy in Fig 2. A total of 1,1 19 sequences were obtained by the Sanger Centre
• the data indicate that the great majority of sequence inserts cluster around an average base composition of 65% G+C and a CpG [observed/expected] frequency of -0.8.
• the bulk genome has an average base composition of 40% G+C and an [observed/expected] frequency of -0.25 (marked by the green square).
• a fifth control tube contained 70 ⁇ l of BL21
• Frozen lysates were thawed on ice and subsequently centrifuged for 15 minutes at 17,00Og (4 0 C) and the supernatant then kept on ice.
• Stock Ni-NTA superflow (Qiagen) was gently inverted to re-suspend the beads into a slurry (slurry volume is ca 2x bed volume).
• Three 2ml aliquots of slurry were transferred to three 50ml falcon tubes and sedimented at 500g for 5minutes.
• the Supernatant (ethanol) was carefully decanted and the beads resuspended in lOmls of pre-cooled, wash buffer (10x bed volume). This was centrifuged again, as before, and the supernatant disregarded.
• This wash was repeated a further twice prior to addition of lysate.
• the lysate was split equally into 3x40ml aliquots and added to the three tubes of washed beads.
• the beads were resuspended in the lysate and place on rollers at 4 0 C for two hours (for His tag binding to the Ni-NTA beads).
• the beads were then centrifuged as for the washes, the supernatant removed and stored and the beads resuspended in 5mls of wash buffer. All three tubes were transferred to a single 20ml Bio-Rad poly-prep column and the tubes rinsed with wash buffer on to the column. The flow through was stored and the column washed with three 10ml volumes of wash buffer, after which the column was capped.
• the His-CxxC-3 was eluted from the column over seven 2ml fractions, in a 25OmM Imidazole wash buffer. A ImI aliquot of the elution buffer was added to the column and allowed to equilibrate for lOminutes, after which it was allowed to flow through and was collected. This process was repeated a further six times (until the Ni-NTA had become blue rather than brown). The un-bound sample, washes and fractions were analysed by SDS- PAGE to assess both purity and which fractions to pool and dialyze (to remove the bulk of the Imidazole from the protein).
• Protein concentrations of the purified His-CxxC-3 was determined using the protein dye (Bio-Rad 500-0002) Bradford assay of (Bradford, 1976). Bandshift assays
• Bandshift assays were carried out on 100ml 1.3% w/v agarose gels, consisting of 1.3gs of agarose in 0.5x TBE set with 15 wells. Bandshifts were probed with the radiolabeled probe CGI l constructed as reported by (Meehan et ⁇ /.,1989) in both methylated and non- methylated form. CGI l was diluted in bromophenol blue dye at a ratio of 1 :1 to give a
• His-CxxC-3 was bound to ImI of Ni-NTA superflow beads and packed onto a Pharmacia HR5/5 liquid chromatography column according to the method of (3) with the following adjustments. Buffer washes were 2x3mls and a total of six fractions were collected. Bradford assay was carried out on all fractions to assess non-specific binding to the column. An additional SDS-PAGE analysis of a sample of protein bound Ni-NTA was compared against BSA standards to determine the CxxC-3 content of the column. The HR5/5 column was fully disassembled and equilibrated in column buffer 1 prior to packing.
• Methylation efficiency was analysed by HpaII restriction and agarose gel electrophoresis (methylation sensitive endonuclease which does not cut methylated DNA).
• the FPLC pumps were set to lml/min, valve position 1.3 and WASH A. B to position 1.1 and washed through, (first with dH 2 O/Azide and then with a sample of 0.1M NaCl running buffer). Pump A and B were run from column buffers 1 and 2 respectively, and the FPLC set to wash the system through with a 0.1 M NaCl Buffer (lOmls at lml/min). the CxxC-3 column was then attached by the drop to drop method ensuring that the outlet was higher than the inlet during attachment (0.1 M NaCl buffer being pumped at 0.2ml/min during attachment).
• the FPLC was set to run two separate methods files, first a wash and then a column run.
• the wash cycle ran 5mls of 0.1 M NaCl buffer through the column, followed by 5mls of IM NaCl buffer and then another 5mls of 0.1 M NaCl buffer.
• the run cycle introduced a pre-loaded ImI DNA sample (from the sample loop) on to the column, then ran 0.1 M NaCl buffer through the column for 4.8mls. At this point the concentration was increased to IM NaCl buffer (to produce a concentration gradient over 30 ImI fractions). This concentration was maintained for 5mls before returning to 0.1 M NaCl buffer for the final 5mls.
• agarose gel electrophoresis carried out, was on plasmid and restricted-plasmid DNA, ranging in size from 100-6000bp. As such, agarose gels were made 1.3% (w/v) in TAE buffer (Ix) containing ethidium bromide (50,000x) according to standard techniques (1).
• TAE buffer Ix
• ethidium bromide 50,000x
• 100ml gels with 15 well combs were made and run in 1 litre tanks, flooded with (Ix) TAE (to ca 3mm above the surface of the gel) and run at 120v until the loading buffer was.5cm from the foot of the gel.
• Samples were prepared in (6x) loading buffer (e.g. 20 ⁇ l DNA with 4 ⁇ l loading buffer
• Ix DTT loading buffer Pellet samples such as the lysate were prepared in the same way. Small fraction sample such as those from the purification stages were made to the desired concentration in 2x DTT loading buffer. Each SDS-PAGE gel was calibrated

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