ST. LOUIS, Oct. 30 — Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL) today introduced its Imprint(TM) Methylated DNA Quantification Kit (MDQ1) for epigenetic research http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/mdq1. The Methylated DNA Quantification Kit employs a familiar ELISA-like procedure, with no radioactivity or chromatography, to measure global methylation in less than four hours. The kits are effective with a DNA input as low as 5ng of fully methylated DNA and are arranged in a flexible 8-well assay strips format, allowing for high-throughput applications or manual analysis of DNA from cultured cells, tissues, plasma and other body fluid samples. Imprint MDQ technology will enable scientists to rapidly quantify the global methylation status of biological samples, providing insight into conditions that alter methylation status and facilitating advanced disease research.

The introduction of MDQ1 kits provides researchers with an alternative to currently available methods for quantifying global methylation, such as reverse phase HPLC, MALDI-TOF-MS, methylation sensitive restriction fingerprinting, DNA methyltransferase assays, immunohistostaining, and dot blots. MDQ1 kits include all necessary reagents, enabling laboratories to screen samples in-house rather than sending them to core facilities.

“Our Imprint Methylated DNA Quantification Kits offer complete and rapid solutions for the quantification of global DNA methylation,” said Tim Fleming, Director of Commercial Marketing at Sigma-Aldrich. “The addition of this exciting technology to our epigenetic research product suite reflects Sigma- Aldrich’s commitment to developing a robust platform of technologies to support the epigenetics research community.”

Sigma-Aldrich licensed its MDQ technology from the Epigentek Group. The Imprint Methylated DNA Quantification Kit complements Sigma Life Science’s epigenetic research portfolio, including the Imprint DNA Modification Kit and the Imprint ChIP Kit, as well as products for DNA purification, qPCR, sequencing and post-reaction clean-up.

“We are very excited by Sigma-Aldrich’s decision to partner with Epigentek in the epigenetic field,” said Adam Li, chief scientific officer at Epigentek. “This arrangement underscores Epigentek’s position in the epigenetic arena, strengthens our strategy and portfolio, and is expected to benefit both companies’ programs in developing new epigenetics technologies and products.”

To learn more about the Imprint Methylated DNA Quantification Kit, and Sigma-Aldrich’s epigenetics research product portfolio, visit http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/epigenetics.