Opening up SA gene research
A new facility in Adelaide has opened up to local researchers to help them discover more detailed information about the epigenetic modification of genes.
The South Australian Epigenetics Facility (SAEF) is a joint venture between UniSA, the University of Adelaide and Bio Innovation SA’s AIB Labs Program. The Facility has purchased a Pyro Mark MD Pyrosequencer, currently the only in South Australia, and aims to provide the South Australian research community with a cost-effective pyrosequencing service.
Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression that occur without a change in the original DNA sequence. One particularly well characterised epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation.
"Our facility can provide fast, accurate and quantitative DNA methylation analysis," said Facility Officer Julian Raeside.
"Laborious methods do exist for DNA methylation analysis but the Pyrosequencer can reduce the time from several weeks or even months, to normally only a few days.
"Epigenetics is really starting to take off in Australia. Humans are so complex, and epigenetics has the ability to explain some of that complexity.
"Epigenetics is becoming an increasingly important area of research and has applications from plant biotechnology to cancer research."
UniSA researcher, Dr Sheridan Gentili was involved in setting up the Facility along with Dr Megan Mitchell from the University of Adelaide, and will be using it to help with her work on foetal development.
"My research focuses on foetal adaptations to a decrease in nutrient supply, and the effects of foetal growth restriction," Dr Gentili said.
"Being born small is associated with an increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes as an adult. Recent studies suggest that a decrease in foetal nutrient supply results in a change in DNA methylation of genes that are involved in metabolic pathways.
"The pyrosequencing technology will allow us to quickly and accurately interrogate these changes in our model of foetal growth restriction.
"The level of methylation is associated with changes in gene expression; such that a decrease in methylation is associated with an increase in gene expression and vice versa."
The South Australian Epigenetics Facility is located in the Medical School at the University of Adelaide. For more information visit www.adelaide.edu.au/saef or contact Julian Raeside on 8313 1013.