Is it possible to use MLPA for testing the methylation status of a specific site?
Yes. We have several methylation-specific MLPA kits available including the ME001 for tumour suppressor genes and ME028 for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)/Angelman syndrome (AS). MLPA probes for methylation quantification are similar to normal MLPA probes. The main difference is that the sequence detected by the MS-MLPA probes contains a recognition site for the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme HhaI. During the MS-MLPA procedure, the complex which is formed after hybridisation of the probes to the sample DNA will be digested by the HhaI restriction endonuclease. Probes which are hybridised to an unmethylated site are digested and will therefore not produce a signal. In contrast, if the DNA target sequence detected by the probe is methylated, the sequence is protected against digestion and the probe will generate a signal. More information about the MS-MLPA technology can be found here, while an overview of MS-MLPA kits is available here. Please note that the HhaI enzyme, which is
