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Methylation & Uracil Interference Assays
These two analytical methods are presented in parallel, because they assay for similar information based on
similar reactions. In both cases, the DNA is analyzed for nucleotides which are important for protein
binding. The approach taken is to end label the DNA probe, so that cleavage of the DNA will yield labeled
fragments whose size indicates the cleavage position, as in DNase I footprint analysis above. The probe is
treated to generate modified bases at about 1 base per DNA molecule. Binding protein is added to the
modified DNA. If the base which was modified on a given DNA molecule was critical for binding, that
molecule will be left unbound. Bound and unbound populations of DNA are separated on mobility shift
assay gels. The two populations are then treated to cleave the DNA at the modified bases, and run on a
denaturing PAGE gel.
Modifications to bases important for protein binding will lead to the absence of cleavage fragments ending
at such bases from the bound fraction of DNA. Cleavage at these sites will produce fragments seen only in
the unbound DNA (See figure below).
Uracil or Methylation Interference Assay. End labeled probe is modified at one site per molecule, and
allowed to bind protein. Bound and unbound populations are separated, and strands are cleaved at the
modified bases. Bases critical for protein binding will not appear as bands in the bound population.
Methylation and uracil interference techniques differ in the base(s) targeted, and in the method used to
modify and cleave the DNA. The methylation interference assay is the simpler of the two, involving a
chemical modification of Guanines and Adenines with Dimethylsulfate to produce N-7 methyl G or N-3
methyl A residues. These residues are subject to cleavage by piperidine. The complexity of this method is
somewhat increased by the need to isolate an end labeled probe with which to work.
In the Uracil interference analysis DNA is synthesized in the presence of dUTP to incorporate Uracil
residues in place of thymine, at a rate of 0.5-1 thymine substitutions per molecule. This can be accomplished
by PCR with one labeled primer, thus probe generation may be easier than for methylation interference.
Cleavage at Uracil residues requires a two step procedure, in which Uracil glycosylase removes the Uracil
base, creating apyrimidinic sites which are then cleaved by piperidine.
Methylation Interference Assay
Uracil Interference Assay
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Probe Preparation for Methylation Interference:
Generate a probe labeled at one end from a plasmid construct digested with enzymes to produce one
5' overhang on a probe of 100-300 bp. (see protocol above on DNase I footprinting)
Prepare and purify fragment as described.
Methylate 106 cpm of
probe in 200 µl of
reaction buffer:
50mM Sodium Cacodylate pH 7.9
1mM EDTA
Add 1µl of DMS to start the reaction.
React for 5 minutes at room temperature.
Stop the reaction with
50 µl of:
1.5M Sodium Acetate, pH 7.2
1mM BME
0.25 µg/ml tRNA
Precipitate the DNA with 750µl of Ethanol, at -70°C (dispose of supernatant as DMS toxic waste).
Wash pellet by redissolving in 300µl 0.3M Sodium Acetate, then precipitate with 900 µl Ethanol.
Repeat this step twice.
Proceed to mobility shift analysis.
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Probe Preparation for Uracil Interference: Probe for this procedure is generated by PCR
amplification in the presence of one labeled and one unlabeled primer, with dUTP present at 25% of
the concentration of the dTTP. Primers should be selected to provide a region of amplification which
is 200-300 bp in length, and contains the protein binding site.
Label the primer(s) with 32P ATP and polynucleotide kinase. Use the buffer and protocol
recommended by the enzyme manufacturer.
Purify the probe by gel electrophoresis or spin columns prior to use.
Purify the PCR products by native gel electrophoresis.
Proceed to mobility shift analysis.
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Mobility Shift Analysis:
Mobility Shift Analysis is the same for both protocols. At the end of the analysis, locate the bands by
autoradiography, and cut out the bound (upper) and unbound (lower) DNA bands. Purify the DNA
from the gel slices.
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Cleavage Reactions:
Uracil glycosylase (Uracil interference only)
Remove the Uracil bases by treating the DNA with 0.02 U/µl Uracil glycosylase in 1X Taq
polymerase buffer (from PCR reaction)
Incubate at 37°C 1 hour
Precipitate DNA with 0.1 vol 0.3M Sodium Acetate and 3 volumes of Ethanol.
Proceed with piperidine cleavage.
Piperidine Reaction: (both assays)
Redissolve precipitated DNA in 0.1 ml of 1M piperidine.
Heat to 95°C for 30 minutes. Remove tubes to -70°C.
Lyophilize frozen samples to dryness.
Redissolve in 0.1 ml water.
Repeat lyophilization and rehydration three times.

Analyze bound and unbound samples on a 6% denaturing polyacrylamide gel.
NEXT TOPIC: Native PAGE of DNA
Convenient denaturing PAGE gel system
SequaGel - UreaGel System
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Conveniently casts 19:1 denaturing gels
Easy to vary monomer percentage from 4-20%
Urea already dissolved
Certified RNase and DNase free
Consistently crystal clear gels
Download protocol
Reference articles
Sample kit available