Introduction to Methylation Array Analysis
DNA methylation plays an important and dynamic role in regulating gene expression. It allows cells to suppress expression of viral and nonhost DNA elements, and facilitates response to environmental stimuli. Aberrant DNA methylation (hyper- or hypomethylation) and its impact on gene expression have been implicated in many biological processes and diseases. Methylation arrays enable quantitative interrogation of selected methylation sites across the genome, offering high-throughput capabilities that minimize the cost per sample.
Illumina Methylation Arrays
Our Infinium MethylationEPIC and Mouse Methylation BeadChips allow you to interrogate 850,000 or 285,000 markers, respectively, across the genome at single-nucleotide resolution.
Human MethylationEPIC BeadChip
Powered by the Infinium assay, the MethylationEPIC BeadChip is ideal for epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS), tumor profiling, and various cell biology experiments. It offers comprehensive, expert-selected coverage, including 99% of RefSeq genes, 95% of CpG islands, high coverage of enhancer regions, and other content categories. With > 90% of the original content from the Infinium HumanMethylation450K covered, the MethylationEPIC kit supports the next generation of epigenetics research.
Mouse Methylation BeadChip
Also leveraging the Infinium assay, the Mouse Methylation BeadChip can be used in EWAS and other experiments probing the methylome in healthy and diseased tissues. Much like the MethylationEPIC BeadChip, the Mouse Methylation BeadChip offers genome-wide coverage, with probes targeted to CpG islands, enhancer regions, transcription start sites, and other important regions of the methylome.
Advantages of Methylation Arrays
Our methylation microarrays combine comprehensive coverage and high-throughput capabilities. Advantages include:
- Comprehensive genome-wide coverage
- CpG islands
- Non-CpG and differentially methylated sites
- Enhancers
- Open chromatin
- Transcription factor binding sites
- miRNA promoter regions
- Assay reproducibility
- > 98% reproducibility between technical replicates for all Infinium methylation arrays
- 98% for the same samples on the legacy HumanMethylation450K array vs. the MethylationEPIC array
- MethylationEPIC contains > 90% of the HumanMethylation450K content
- User-friendly, streamlined workflow
- MethylationEPIC has been validated with FFPE samples
Methylation Array Workflow
Our methylation arrays follow a user-friendly, streamlined workflow, enabling processing of up to 96 samples simultaneously from low sample input (as little as 250 ng).
Offering quantitative measurement at the single-CpG-site level, these methylation microarrays offer powerful resolution for understanding epigenetic changes.
Click on the below to view products for each workflow step.
MethylationEPIC BeadChip
Robust methylation profiling microarray with extensive coverage of CpG islands, genes, and enhancers. Use for epigenome-wide association studies and other experiments.
Infinium Mouse Methylation BeadChip
Features > 285k markers across the methylome for high resolution epigenetic analyses of diverse murine strains.
iScan System
Supports high-throughput BeadChip processing, scanning hundreds to thousands of samples quickly and accurately.
NextSeq 550 System
Perform next-generation sequencing and methylation array scanning all on one platform.
GenomeStudio Software and Methylation Module
Effortless differential methylation analysis and display of chromosomal coordinates, % GC, location in CpG island, and methylation ß values.
Methylation Field Guide
Explore a variety of methods used to detect cytosine modifications, including methylation arrays, and learn more about the impact of cytosine methylation.
Read Guide
Featured Methylation Microarray Research
The Epigenetic Patterns of Exercise
Dr. Sundberg at the Karolinska Institute uses methylation arrays and RNA-Seq to reveal exercise-related epigenetic changes.
Read InterviewScouring The Epigenome For The Origins Of Dementia and Mental Illness
Dr. Mill at King’s College London uses methylation arrays to identify epigenetic changes that contribute to neurodegenerative disorders.
Read InterviewEpigenetics Studies Uncover Obesity-Driven Methylation Signatures
Dr. Samani at University of Leicester uses methylation arrays to identify cell signaling disruption linked with high BMI.
Read InterviewRelated Solutions
Complex Disease Studies
Methylation array studies enable researchers to understand the functional mechanisms at work in complex disease. Illumina offers complementary solutions for researchers studying these disorders. Learn more about complex disease research.
Epigenetics and Cancer
Illumina array and sequencing solutions are ideal for detecting altered methylation patterns and epigenetic changes that provide insight into tumorigenic pathways and cancer progression. Learn more about cancer epigenetics.
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Additional Resources
Methylation Sequencing
Methylation sequencing approaches offer higher density and flexibility in assessing epigenome changes.
FastTrack Microarray Services
Illumina experts provide methylation array and genotyping services.
Methylation Array Data Analysis Tips from Experts
Experts describe their approaches to analyzing Illumina methylation array data.
Epigenome-Wide Association Studies
Epigenetic changes in newborns linked with maternal smoking during pregnancy.