# Post-conversion targeted capture of modified cytosines in mammalian and plant genomes

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a DNA capture method to study cytosine modifications in specific genomic regions of mammals and plants.

## Contribution

The novel approach enables targeted analysis of 5mC and 5hmC in both CG and non-CG contexts using bisulfite-converted DNA.

## Key findings

- The method works with as little as 500 ng of DNA and correlates well with whole genome bisulfite sequencing.
- It is robust in human DNA samples contaminated with microbial DNA.
- The technique allows cell type-specific designs for cytosine modification studies.

## Abstract

We present a capture-based approach for bisulfite-converted DNA that allows interrogation of pre-defined genomic locations, allowing quantitative and qualitative assessments of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) at CG dinucleotides and in non-CG contexts (CHG, CHH) in mammalian and plant genomes. We show the technique works robustly and reproducibly using as little as 500 ng of starting DNA, with results correlating well with whole genome bisulfite sequencing data, and demonstrate that human DNA can be tested in samples contaminated with microbial DNA. This targeting approach will allow cell type-specific designs to maximize the value of 5mC and 5hmC sequencing.