<p>In my experience, the most common approach to find DMR is to use the <code>DSS</code> R package to call and merge DML into regions.</p>
<p>DMC/DML (Differential Methylation Cytosine/Loci) is often calculated by comparing the counts of methylated and unmethylated cytosine at one position between samples.</p>
<p>Steps are to first call DMLs with the <code>callDML()</code> function. Then call DMRs from these first results with <code>callDMR()</code>. Finally annotate the DMLs or DMRs using a <code>GFF</code> file. From there you can look for DMR falling into CpG island. Some of the parameters that can be tuned are the <strong>minimum region length</strong>, <strong>minimum number of differential CpG sites</strong>, <strong>percentage of CpG sites required to be significant</strong>. However I have never heard of what would be the standard values for these parameters. It may not be clearly established yet.</p>
<p>So because the process of calling DMLs and DMRs need robust statistical testing, it is suggested to first call the differential methylated states and then annotate it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T09:04:34.267Z
Yes, most current studies use DMR to measure methylation level. However, DNA methylation impose its impact by suppressing gene expression. I think it is more reasonable to measure the magnitude of methylation impact on gene expression than merely defining statistically methylated region. To do this, we may need better understanding on the correlation between methylation and mRNA expression (things like whether different CpG site have equal contribution on the expression of corresponding gene)
unicorn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T13:17:21.303Z
Well as you may know the effect of methylation on genes expression is far from being clear, most studies showing poor negative correlation between differential gene expression and methylation. An interesting approach was the one of Vanderkraats in https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkt482. The main idea was to look for pattern of differential methylation around genes promotor that could explain genes expression.
Paul Endymion
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-14T02:03:15.590Z
Thanks @PaulEndymion a detailed adn useful response
M__
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-08T10:11:58.657Z
2020-09-08T16:22:22.213Z
2020-09-08T16:22:22.213Z
Paul Endymion
<p>Differentially methylated site is technically measured by each probe. However, CpG island within gene promoter is comprised of numerous probes. Do we have a consensus of how to determine the methylation level of CpG island using methylation level of probes within corresponding CpG island?</p>

<methylation>
Defining methylation level of CpG island
# Defining methylation level of CpG island

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-08)

Differentially methylated site is technically measured by each probe. However, CpG island within gene promoter is comprised of numerous probes. Do we have a consensus of how to determine the methylation level of CpG island using methylation level of probes within corresponding CpG island?

**Tags:** methylation

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-09-08. Score: 1

In my experience, the most common approach to find DMR is to use the `DSS` R package to call and merge DML into regions.

DMC/DML (Differential Methylation Cytosine/Loci) is often calculated by comparing the counts of methylated and unmethylated cytosine at one position between samples.

Steps are to first call DMLs with the `callDML()` function. Then call DMRs from these first results with `callDMR()`. Finally annotate the DMLs or DMRs using a `GFF` file. From there you can look for DMR falling into CpG island. Some of the parameters that can be tuned are the **minimum region length**, **minimum number of differential CpG sites**, **percentage of CpG sites required to be significant**. However I have never heard of what would be the standard values for these parameters. It may not be clearly established yet.

So because the process of calling DMLs and DMRs need robust statistical testing, it is suggested to first call the differential methylated states and then annotate it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, most current studies use DMR to measure methylation level. However, DNA methylation impose its impact by suppressing gene expression. I think it is more reasonable to measure the magnitude of methylation impact on gene expression than merely defining statistically methylated region. To do this, we may need better understanding on the correlation between methylation and mRNA expression (things like whether different CpG site have equal contribution on the expression of corresponding gene)  
> **username_1**: Well as you may know the effect of methylation on genes expression is far from being clear, most studies showing poor negative correlation between differential gene expression and methylation. An interesting approach was the one of Vanderkraats in https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkt482. The main idea was to look for pattern of differential methylation around genes promotor that could explain genes expression.  
> **username_2**: Thanks @PaulEndymion a detailed adn useful response  

---

