NEW YORK, July 12 - Epigentek Group Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded to the epigenetic tools company a Notice of Allowance for a patent to cover novel methods of rapid quantification of global DNA methylation.
DNA methylation plays a critical role in the regulation of gene function. Alteration of methylation has been proposed as a molecular marker in multiple biological processes such as cancer. Thus, the quantification of global methylation in cancer could provide very useful information for detection and analysis of this disease.
This key patent award strengthens Epigentek’s intellectual property and product portfolio, and further secures its global DNA methylation detection technologies.
The company also filed a related US patent application of a novel method to quantify hydroxymethylated DNA or 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in a microplate-based, immunospecifically detecting format.
It is believed that 5-hmC plays an important role in switching genes on and off. Prior to Epigentek’s technology, there were no methods that could be used for practically or routinely identifying 5-hmC and discriminating 5-hydroxymethylcytosine from 5-methylcytosine. The presence of 5-hmC makes it necessary to not only re-evaluate existing DNA methylation data, but also necessary to determine relative distribution and changes of 5-hmC in human tissues of healthy and diseased statuses.
This new technology can be used for rapidly and accurately identifying hydroxymethylated DNA or 5-hmC in a high throughput format, suitable from any species including mammals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and viruses in a variety of forms including cultured cells, fresh and frozen tissues, paraffin-embedded tissues, plasma/serum samples, and body fluid samples.
About Epigentek Group Inc.
Epigentek is a leading biotechnology company that focuses on developing and providing innovative technologies and products as a complete and systematic solution for epigenetic related research and drug discovery. Visit our informative website at www.epigentek.com.
