Bisulfite sequencing is used to analyze DNA methylation based on conversion of genomic DNA by using sodium bisulfite.
Sodium bisulfite is able to convert unmethylated cytosines to uracils. Methylated cytosines remain cytosines, however their methylation is lost in the process. The converted DNA is then analyzed for the amount of cytosines left. As they have not been converted, it can be assumed that those cytosines were methylated and therefore protected from the conversion.
[1] DNA methylation: a profile of mehods and applications.
[2] A genomic sequencing protocol that yields a positive display of 5-methylcytosine residues in individual DNA strands.
[3] Bisulfite beginner's guide
[4] DNA methylation detection: Bisulfite genomic sequencing analysis
[5] Quantitative high-throughput analysis of DNA methylation patterns by base-specific cleavage and mass spectrometry
Jan Dahinden (dahjan), Miro Phan (miro-miro), Daniela Schildknecht (Daniela Schildknecht), Marcel Schneider (MarcelAndreSchneider), Chiara Vanetta (cvanet), Jerome Zürcher (jezuercher)