Product Overview: DNA methylation is a covalent modification of the cytosine ring at the 5′ position, resulting in 5-methylcytosine (5-mC). In somatic cells, 5-mC is found almost exclusively in the context of paired symmetrical methylation of the dinucleotide CpG. The biological important of 5-mC as a major epigenetic modification in phenotype and gene expression has been recognized widely. Quite recently, a novel modified nucleotide, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), has been detected to be abundant in mouse brain and embryonic stem cells. It is a hydroxylated and methylated form of cytosine. Although it is still uncertain its specific role in epigenetics, it is believed it plays a role in DNA demethylation, chromatin remodeling and gene expression regulation.
EpiSeeker hydroxymethylated DNA Quantification Kit (Fluorometric) (ab117131) is a complete set of optimized buffers and reagents to quantify global DNA hydroxymethylation by specifically measuring levels of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) without cross-reactivity to methylcytosine and unmethylated cytosine.
It can be paired to use with EpiSeeker methylated DNA Quantification Kit (Fluorometric) (ab117129), which specifically quantifies 5-mC, for simultaneously quantification of both methylated and hydroxymethylated DNA.