Anchor-based bisulfite sequencing determines genome-wide DNA methylation

Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) is the current standard for DNA methylation profiling. However, this approach is costly as it requires sequencing coverage over the entire genome. Here we introduce Anchor-Based Bisulfite Sequencing (ABBS). ABBS captures accurate DNA methylation information in Escherichia coli and mammals, while requiring up to 10 times fewer sequencing reads than WGBS. ABBS interrogates the entire genome and is not restricted to the CpG islands assayed by methods like Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS). The ABBS protocol is simple and can be performed in a single day. Anchor-Based Bisulfite Sequencing (ABBS) is a sequencing based method that enables analysis of DNA methylation states, based on specific hybridization of bisulfite-refractory methylcytosines with 8-aza-7-deaza-2-deoxyguanosine, incorporated in a primer at the end of 5 random nucleotides.