Chromatrap® – Targeting the Epigenetic Landscape Alongside Low Abundant Transcription Factor Recruitment

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a commonly used IP technique for mapping the DNA-protein interactions in cells which are crucial for correct gene regulation. The molecular mechanisms of epigenetics are being studied to evaluate their effect on chromatin conformation, active or inactive, which control the accessibility of the DNA backbone to transcription factor regulators (TF). Detecting the activity and presence of these mechanisms and their dis-regulation, enables researchers to understand the aberrant epigenetic landscapes which occur in pathology development. Demonstrated here is the sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility of solid phase Chromatrap®, as an assay for Chromatin IP from low cell numbers. Using low input chromatin concentration, the utility of Chromatrap® to understand the balance between histone methylation marks and low abundance TF recruitment at positive and negative target gene loci is clearly shown. This exciting new tool enables low volume, fast IP from small samples, eliminating bead loss and high background signals which are prevalent in magnetic bead separation techniques. Handling errors are also reduced, enabling robust analysis of chromatin dynamics and their effect on TF recruitment.