Analysis of DNA methylation by bisulfite reaction in neural cells as an example of orexin neurons

Abstract

Epigenetic regulation provides the basis for embryonic development, cellular differentiation, and maintenance of cellular function. DNA methylation is involved in various biological phenomena through gene silencing, stabilizing chromosomal structure and suppressing the mobility of retrotransposons. Here, we describe the methods of analyzing DNA methylation by bisulfi te-DNA reactions and combined bisulfi te restriction analysis (COBRA), as an example study of orexin neurons. These methods are useful for basic and applied neurobiology.