As a supplier dedicated to epigenetics research, Creative BioMart provides our customers with efficient methylation-specific PCR (MSP) service that specifically detects the methylation in certain genes of cells. It would help to understand the role of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression, tumorigenesis and epigenetic diseases. With over 10 years of experience, we can totally meet your project requirements and budgets in the exploration of DNA methylation analysis.

What Is Methylation-Specific PCR?

Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) is probably the most widely used technique for studying DNA methylation of a locus of interest. This simple, rapid, and cost-effective method can be used to specifically detect the DNA methylation status of almost any group of CpG sites within a CpG island and without the requirement for methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes. In addition, MSP requires only a small amount of DNA and allows for highly sensitive detection of locus-specific DNA methylation (detection level of < 0.1% of methylated alleles in a specific locus).

The basic principle of MSP is the specific PCR amplification of bisulfite-converted DNA. Treatment of genomic DNA with sodium bisulfite results in the conversion of unmethylated cytosines into uracil in the DNA sample, while methylated cytosines are resistant to this modification and remain unchanged. Then the bisulfite-converted DNA is PCR amplified using specific primers sets, one (primer M) that binds specifically to the methylated sequence and the other (primer U) that only binds to the unmethylated sequence. At the specific annealing temperature of PCR amplification, the Tm values of the two primers sets binding the template are different, therefore, if the primer M can be used to amplify the fragment, the detected site is methylated; If the fragment is amplified with the primer U, there is no methylation at the detected site. Finally, the methylation status of the target DNA sequence is determined by gel electrophoresis imaging.

Fig 1. The basic principle of MSP

Features of Methylation-Specific PCR

1. Detects methylated status in CpG islands within one or several gene targets
2. Highly sensitive detection of locus-specific DNA methylation
3. Applicable to a variety of samples, such as bodily fluids and paraffin-embedded samples
4. A simple, fast, and cost-effective technique

Our Advantages

1. Multiple sample types acceptance: we currently accept DNA, cell, tissue, bodily fluids, and paraffin-embedded samples for our MSP service. Sample sources include human, animals, plants and microorganisms.
2. Strict quality control: we have strict quality control for each step of MSP experiment to ensure that customers receive quality data.
3. One-stop service: customers only need to provide samples, and we complete a full MSP experiment. Moreover, we will provide detail data of the result and procedure.

Workflow of Methylation-Specific PCR at Creative BioMart

Creative BioMart strictly controls every step in the MSP workflow to ensure access to reliable experimental data. During the process of MSP service, we provide professional specific primers sets design for MSP and careful selection of annealing temperature to avoid false positives and false negatives of experimental results.

Fig 2. Workflow of MSP at Creative BioMart

The most reliable and comprehensive data is offered timely to the customers during the experiments. We can help you to speed up your research and we promise to deliver the service you need within the shortest turnaround time, so that you can skip the technical hurdles, focus more on your research, and expedite end-results. If you have any requirements or questions, please feel free to contact us.

Reference
1. Herman J G.; et al. Methylation-specific PCR: a novel PCR assay for methylation status of CpG islands. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 1996, 93(18): 9821-9826.