Methylation of cytosine residues in the DNA (particularly CpG sites) is one of the key markers of specific epigenetic states. The degree of methylation is a key regulator of gene expression. The NCRIS investment facilitates the development of technologies that can be easily translated into a service setting for epigenomic research on a genome-wide scale. Methods will be developed based on both sequencing and array based technologies that will then be translated into a service setting for the detection of methylation status on a genome-wide scale or across large genomic regions. In addition, methods for genome-wide histone modification profiling as well as resources for small RNA profiling will also be implemented.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University and CSIRO Plant Industry in Canberra work collaboratively at developing technologies to enhance epigenetic analyses.