EpiCypher CUTANA Fiber-seq multiomic genomics platform

EpiCypher has announced the launch of CUTANA Fiber-seq — a multiomic genomics platform that captures both genomic and epigenomic information in a single long-read sequencing assay. The technology delivers high resolution of DNA sequence and chromatin features along with individual DNA molecules, with the potential to advance research and precision medicine in ways that were not possible using current short-read workflows.

The Fiber-seq workflow begins with nuclei treated with the Hia5 methyltransferase, which deposits 6mA marks at regions of accessible DNA. Chromatin fibres are then extracted and subjected to long-read sequencing (PacBio or Oxford Nanopore Technologies), where both the Hia5-incorporated 6mA modifications and the underlying DNA sequence are directly detected. This generates a single-molecule, multiomic readout that integrates genetic information, endogenous DNA methylation, and chromatin accessibility across long, continuous DNA molecules.

Unlike conventional ATAC-seq, the platform provides base-pair resolution of transcription factor footprints along individual DNA fibres, which should enable precise detection of protein–DNA interactions that regulate gene expression. It is designed to provide a clear view of the genome — not just the sequence, but the epigenomic states of individual DNA molecules — with potentially transformative implications for fundamental research and translational science.

The technology addresses critical challenges across diverse fields. For basic and translational research, it can be used to map genetic and epigenetic landscapes on individual molecules to uncover complex mechanisms of genome regulation. For drug discovery and development, users can identify and validate novel therapeutic targets by resolving chromatin states and DNA modifications at high resolution. For clinical research and diagnostics, it enables precision medicine applications, including the diagnosis of rare diseases.