Metabolomics

During the life of an organism, a myriad of small molecules arise as intermediates and products of metabolism. Metabolomics – the systematic study of these metabolites – aims at elucidating the chemical fingerprints that specific cellular states and processes leave behind, thus enabling a complex and in-depth understanding of health and disease.

Picturing cellular – and subcellular – metabolism

Current challenges in the field of metabolomics include the need for better and more rapid identification of metabolites that are as yet unknown. In addition, there is increasing interest in metabolomics analyses of single cells or even specialized subunits of the cell (organelles), such as mitochondria. These developments entail the need for new and refined approaches and protocols. In the longer term, we hope to offer single-cell metabolic analyses for biomedical research. Moving forward, we are open for all kinds of collaboration with other scientific groups.

Our tools

• Gas chromatography mass spectrometry
• Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry
• Direct infusion mass spectrometry
• Liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry (LESA-MS)
• Ultrahigh field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (Ultra-FAIMS)

Jennifer Kirwan

In October 2016, Dr. Jennifer Kirwan took over as new head of the BIH Core Facility Metabolomics. She originally trained and practiced as a veterinarian and has been working in the field of mass spectrometry metabolomics for more than ten years now, looking at how metabolomics approaches can add new perspective to research challenges. Dr. Kirwan is particularly interested in how metabolic changes in disease can contribute to understanding on aetiology and contribute to new treatment discovery.

Further information can be found on the BIH Metabolomics website.

Metabolomics can be split into untargeted and targeted approaches. Untargeted approaches attempt to measure as many metabolites as possible in a single analysis using an unbiased approach. Targeted methods by contrast focus more specifically on pre-defined compounds and specific techniques may be adopted to maximize their extraction and detection.

Instruments available:

• Thermo QExactive Hybrid-Quadrupole-Orbitrap
• Thermo TSQ Quantiva Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer
• Leco Pegasus HTGL-TOF MS
• Leco Pegasus 4D GCxGC-TOFMS
• Sciex 5500 mass spectrometer
• Agilent 1290 Infinity LC system
• Agilent 1290 Infinity 2D-LC system

Our platform offers both targeted and untargeted approaches. We have recently developed and validated methods for targeted analysis of tryptophan pathway metabolites and are working on methods for targeted analysis of fatty acids. Please ask us about our full range of analyses.

Lipidomics is a specialised branch of metabolomics which specializes in the analysis of lipids. We can now offer a Lipidyzer targeted analysis of lipids commonly found in human plasma. Where necessary, we can develop more specialised methods on request.

Finally, we have recently instituted the ability to use several Biocrates metabolite analysis kits including P400 and Quant 500 kits which can perform analyses of up to 400 and 500 key metabolites respectively for a broad brush approach to metabolic systems. These kits are particularly suitable where a broad look of metabolism is of interest to researchers who perhaps want to refine hypotheses. Steroid analyses and bile acid analyses should be available in the near future.

For more details, please contact Jennifer Kirwan.