Durham, NC – Life Science Newswire – EpiCypher®, a leader in epigenomics innovation, announces the launch of CUTANA® meCUT&RUN and Multiomic CUT&RUN, two novel DNA methylation sequencing technologies advancing the frontiers of genomic research and drug discovery.
These tools build upon EpiCypher’s proven CUT&RUN platform – a targeted nuclease strategy that has revolutionized chromatin profiling by enabling high-resolution mapping from ultra-low inputs and with reduced sequencing costs. CUT&RUN has broadly supplanted traditional ChIP-seq, powering discoveries across development, disease, and therapeutic research.
DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression, genomic imprinting, and cell identity. Bisulfite sequencing, the traditional gold-standard method for mapping 5-methylcytosine (5mC), suffers from multiple limitations including DNA degradation, excessive sequencing costs, high cell input requirements, making it difficult to integrate with other epigenomic workflows.
CUTANA® meCUT&RUN directly extends the CUT&RUN core platform to DNA methylation by leveraging a novel methyl-DNA binding fusion protein that enriches 5mC with exceptional specificity. With base-pair resolution, this approach is capable of detecting >80% of methyl-CpGs captured by whole-genome approaches while using >20 times less sequencing, setting a new standard for scalable, low-cost DNA methylation analysis.
Building on this innovation, the CUTANA® Multiomic CUT&RUN assay offers researchers the unprecedented ability to co-profile chromatin features (e.g., histone modifications or DNA-binding proteins) alongside DNA methylation. Such simultaneous capture uncovers the dynamic relationship between two fundamental layers of epigenetic regulation – unlocking critical insights for foundational research and translational drug discovery.
“With meCUT&RUN and Multiomic CUT&RUN, we’re providing researchers with highly sensitive, scalable tools to reveal and decode complex mechanisms for gene regulation,” said Dr. Michael-Christopher Keogh, Chief Scientific Officer at EpiCypher. “These technologies mark a dramatic leap forward in resolving how DNA methylation and chromatin states intersect in development and disease.”
Key Benefits of CUTANA® meCUT&RUN:
- Superior sensitivity and resolution vs. targeted approaches (e.g., RRBS, arrays, and hybridization panels)
- Reduced sequencing costs vs. whole-genome sequencing strategies (e.g., WGBS, EM-seq)
- Streamlined workflows compatible with cell lines, primary cells, and patient-derived samples
Key Benefits of CUTANA® Multiomic CUT&RUN:
- Multiomic profiling of chromatin proteins and 5mC with base-pair resolution
- Two distinct epigenomic profiling data from a single reaction
- Low-input, scalable workflows for drug development applications
“Today, most DNA methylation studies rely on targeted approaches – not by choice, but out of necessity – due to the high costs of whole-genome methods,” said Martis Cowles, Chief Business Officer at EpiCypher. “Our drive was to bridge that gap. These new products deliver genome-wide insights using a targeted, cost-efficient approach, bringing comprehensive methylation analysis within reach for a broader range of researchers and applications.” meCUT&RUN and Multiomic CUT&RUN are now available to academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical researchers pursuing discovery in cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology, aging, and beyond.