Patent ID: 6331393
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method for detecting cytosine methylation and methylated CpG islands within a genomic sample of DNA comprising:(a) contacting a genomic sample of DNA with a modifying agent that modifies unmethylated cytosine to produce a converted nucleic acid;(b) amplifying the converted nucleic acid by means of oligonucleotide primers in the presence of one or a plurality of specific oligonucleotide probes, wherein one or a plurality of the oligonucleotide primers or the specific probe(s) are capable of distinguishing between unmethylated and methylated nucleic acid, with the proviso that at least one oligonucleotide probe is a CpG-specific probe capable of distinguishing between unmethylated and methylated nucleic acid; and(c) detecting the methylated nucleic acid based on amplification-mediated displacement of the CpG-specific probe.