Inventors:
Gregory Timp - South Bend IN, US
Winston Timp - Baltimore MD, US
Andrew Feinberg - Baltimore MD, US
Utkur Mirsaidov - Urbana IL, US
Assignee:
The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois - Urbana IL
The Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore MD
International Classification:
C12Q 1/68, C12P 19/34, C12M 1/34, C07H 21/02, C07H 19/00
US Classification:
435 61, 435 911, 4352872, 536 231, 536 2854, 977924
Abstract:
Provided are methods for detecting, characterizing or separating DNA based on methylation. Heterogeneous DNA populations are separated based on DNA methylation by providing a membrane having a nanopore through which an electric field is applied. DNA of interest is introduced, and for a given threshold voltage across the nanopore, only DNA having a methylation parameter of interest may transit the pore, thereby facilitating detection, characterization, or separation of DNA based on methylation. The methods are optionally used to detect a disease state that is associated with DNA methylation including, but not limited to, cancer.