Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the analysis of the methylation status of a nucleic acid. According to the invention, the method comprises following steps: (a) treating the nucleic acid with a chemical reagent or an enzyme containing solution, whereby the base pairing behavior of methylated cytosine bases and/or unmethylated cytosine bases of the nucleic acid are altered such that methylated cytosine bases become distinguishable from unmethylated cytosine bases, (b) hybridizing to the treated nucleic acid an at least one oligonucleotide, (c) ligating the at least one oligonucleotide to itself to form a circular DNA molecule if a particular methylation status is present in the nucleic acid, and (d) amplifying the DNA molecule formed to detect the methylation status of the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to novel and substantially improved methods for detecting CpG positions. Particular aspects relate to a method for detection of one or more CpG positions. Said method comprises: providing a sample, binding a protein or peptide onto the DNA of said sample, hybridizing a probe onto the DNA of said sample, detecting a signal determined by said bound proteins or peptides and by said hybridized probes. Thereby one or more CpG positions are detected in a methylation specific and sequence specific manner.