ATAC-Seq is a rapid assay that allows analysis of epigenetic profiles across the genome by identification of regions that have open or accessible chromatin states. Because of the assay’s speed, simplicity, and applicability to a wide range of sample types, ATAC-Seq has become a commonly-used epigenetic assay, and it can serve as a gateway to further, more detailed epigenetic analyses.

In the ATAC-Seq assay, intact nuclei from cell or tissue samples are treated with a hyperactive Tn5 transposase mutant. This transposase is able to simultaneously tag the target DNA with sequencing adapters and fragment the DNA in a process termed tagmentation.

Read more about ATAC-seq from Active Motif