Metabolomics

These metabolites are crucial indicators of a cell's characteristics and functions. Metabolism influences various cellular activities, including differentiation, growth, tumor progression, inflammation, and response to treatments. It is a key aspect of cancer therapy, autoimmune disease targets, and significantly affects life and health spans. Due to the rapid nature of biochemical reactions, metabolite levels change quickly, providing precise snapshots of cell states in both health and disease. Consequently, metabolomics has driven important advancements in areas like cancer research, immunology, aging and more.

The Metabolomics Unit provides comprehensive profiling of small molecules using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) across various biological systems. Our platform supports both hypothesis-driven (targeted) and exploratory (untargeted) experiments. With a library of hundreds of compounds and data on exact mass, fragmentation, and chromatographic retention times, we can accurately identify and quantify most common cellular metabolites. Our targeted methods further include profiling redox state, vitamins, sterols, and cholesterol metabolism, as well as metabolic isotope tracing (both targeted and untargeted) and metabolite credentialing analysis. Additionally, we offer customized method development and research-focused technology development.

A metabolomics experiment includes several interconnected steps: designing a hypothesis-driven or hypothesis-generating experiment, preparing samples, acquiring and analyzing data, and interpreting and presenting the results. We provide comprehensive support at each stage based on project needs.

Specific capabilities

1. Targeted metabolomics – polar compounds. Using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) we profile polar compounds from diverse biological samples (plasma, tissues, tissue culture models, microorganisms, etc.). Our small molecule LC-MS libraries include amino acids, glycolytic and TCA cycle intermediates and others – with more than 400 characterized compounds.
2. Targeted metabolomics – non-polar compounds. Analysis of lipids, sterols, other non-polar metabolites and drugs is performed using reverse phase chromatography (C18).
3. Untargeted metabolomics. We use advanced platforms and software for untargeted metabolomics, including isotope tracing, biomarker discovery, and novel compound annotation. Most work in untargeted analyses occurs after data acquisition and initial processing. Therefore, these analyses will be a collaborative effort and must be coordinated with the unit head before experimental design.
4. Metabolite isotope tracing. We offer stable isotope tracing experiments for various systems in vivo and in vitro (cells and organelles). Please note, this is not metabolic flux analysis.
5. Targeted absolute quantitation. Absolute (molar) quantitation is performed using standard curves and labeled internal standards. Depending on the number of molecules of interest, please consider that additional investment may be needed for purchasing the required standards.
6. Project-specific method development. While our standard profiling methods suffice for most projects, some may require additional optimization for specific metabolite classes or unstable molecules. In such cases, it may be necessary to optimize or develop new methods for sample preparation, chromatography, and/or mass spectrometry. These cases may require collaborative efforts and additional investment, such as purchasing chromatographic columns and chemical standards.
7. Data analysis, statistics, interpretation, data presentation. Interpreting and analyzing large data sets can be challenging. To assist with this, we include a basic statistical analysis in our standard targeted metabolite profiling. Depending on the project's scope and collaboration level, we also offer help with data interpretation, deposition, and presentation

Notes

Producing high-quality metabolomics data presents unique challenges distinct from genomics or proteomics. We encourage users to contact us early in the experimental design phase. Users will manage the initial steps of sample preparation and therefore must coordinate with us at least two weeks before submission to ensure proper guidance.

We expect to be fully functional by the end of the year 2024. Please contact Dr.ⁱⁿ Petrova for details.