脱氧核糖核酸甲基化分析方法在肿瘤诊断和治疗中的应用

Assay Methods of DNA Methylation and Their Applications in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)甲基化是表观遗传改变的主要作用方式,在基因表达调控、基因组印迹、胚胎发育、维持正常细胞功能等过程中起着极其重要的作用;异常甲基化可以导致肿瘤的发生、发展。因此,探讨甲基化形成与改变的可能机制,建立准确性好、灵敏度高、操作简单的DNA甲基化分析方法,可为某些肿瘤的早期诊断提供重要依据。本文综述了DNA甲基化的几种重要分析方法,着重介绍了直接测序法、甲基化特异性PCR方法、高效液相色谱法、毛细管电泳法、荧光法、电化学方法以及光度分析法等的原理及优缺点;并介绍了DNA甲基化在肿瘤诊断和治疗中的应用;最后展望了DNA甲基化分析检测方法的研究前景及应用。

DNA methylation catalyzed by DNA methyltransferase is an important epigenetic event that plays crucial roles in gene transcription and expression,genomic imprinting,embryogenesis,and maintaining normal cell function.Aberrant DNA methylation can lead to the development of cancer.Therefore,an approach for the rapid,facile,and sensitive detection DNA methylation could provide a powerful tool for early cancer disgnosis.This paper reviews the assay methods of DNA methylation.Specifically,direct sequencing,methylation-specific PCR,high performance liquid chromatographic method,capillary electrophoresis,fluorescence approach,electrochemical apparoach,and colorimetric approach are presented.In addition,the application of the assay of DNA methylation in cancer diagnosis and therapy is summarized.Finally,the further development on the assay methods of DNA methylation and their applications are briefly introduced.