BACKGROUND:

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is caused by a homozygous GAA repeat expansion mutation within intron 1 of the FXN gene, which induces epigenetic changes and FXN gene silencing. Bisulfite sequencing studies have identified 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) DNA methylation as one of the epigenetic changes that may be involved in this process. However, analysis of samples by bisulfite sequencing is a time-consuming procedure.

Read More: Friedreich Ataxia Patient Tissues Exhibit Increased 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Modification and Decreased CTCF Binding at the FXN Locus