EpiScope Methylated HeLa gDNA is genomic DNA that has been purified from human HeLa cells and highly methylated using CpG methylase. EpiScope Methylated HCT116 gDNA is genomic DNA purified from human HCT116 cells that is highly methylated using CpG methylase. Both are used as positive controls for DNA methylation analysis methods such as bisulfite sequencing, Combined Bisulfite Restriction Analysis (COBRA), the Methylated CpG Island Recovery Assay (MIRA), and methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Episcope Unmethylated HCT116 DKO gDNA is genomic DNA purified from the DNMT DKO (double knockout) human HCT116 cell line, which is genetically lacking in both DNMT1 (DNA methyltransferase 1) and DNMT3B (DNA methytransferase 3B). The methylation level of genomic DNA from the DNMT DKO HCT116 cell line is much lower (under 5%) than wild-type genomic DNA. Therefore, this DNA can be used as a negative (un- or hypo-methylated) control in DNA methylation analyses including bisulfite sequencing, COBRA, MIRA, and MSP.

DNA methylation analysis is a field of epigenetics research that has been gaining attention in recent years. Methylation of CpG islands in the promoter region of a gene may influence that gene"s transcriptional regulation. Bisulfite sequencing, methylation-specific PCR (MSP), Combined Bisulfite Restriction Analysis (COBRA) and Methylated CpG Island Recovery Assay (MIRA) are all commonly used to analyze methylated DNA.