Metabolomics

Metabolomics is the large-scale study of small molecules, commonly known as metabolites, within cells, biofluids, tissues or organisms. Collectively, these small molecules and their interactions within a biological system are known as the metabolome.

Overview

Metabolomics is the scientific study of chemical processes involving metabolites. Specifically, metabolomics is the "systematic study of the unique chemical fingerprints that specific cellular processes leave behind", the study of their small-molecule metabolite profiles. The metabolome represents the collection of all metabolites in a biological cell, tissue, organ or organism, which are the end products of cellular processes. Thus, while mRNA gene expression data and proteomic analyses do not tell the whole story of what might be happening in a cell, metabolic profiling can give an instantaneous snapshot of the physiology of that cell.

History

The term "metabolome" was first coined by Oliver, Wheatley and Kell in 1998. It was described as the "complete complement of all small molecule (<1500 Da) metabolites found in or produced by an organism". The concept of the metabolome and metabolomics has been in use for several decades, but has come to prominence in recent years due to advances in technologies such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS).

Techniques

There are two main techniques used in metabolomics: NMR and MS. NMR is a non-destructive method that allows for the simultaneous study of a wide range of metabolites. MS, on the other hand, is more sensitive than NMR and can be used to study a wider range of metabolites. However, it is a destructive method and requires the sample to be prepared in a specific way.

Applications

Metabolomics is used in a wide range of fields including medicine, biology, and environmental science. In medicine, it can be used to identify biomarkers for disease and to understand the underlying mechanisms of disease. In biology, it can be used to study the interactions between organisms and their environment. In environmental science, it can be used to study the effects of pollutants on organisms.

See also

• Metabolite
• Metabolome
• Nuclear magnetic resonance
• Mass spectrometry

References

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