Metabolomics is the analysis of small molecules called metabolites in biological cell, tissue, organ, or organism. These small molecules and their interaction in a biological system is known as the  metabolom. Metabolomics analyses can lead to new understanding of complex metabolic pathways and can suggest new hypothesis on mechanisms, treatments and prognoses for diseases. Metabolomics aims to provide a snapshot at a specific point in time and in combination with other –omics technologies bridges from genotype to phenotype.

The mammalian body is host to a large number of individual metabolites, spanning a wide range of physicochemical properties. To be able to measure a broad range of these metabolites from just one sample presents some challenges. The BIH Metabolomics Platform is equipped with some of the latest range of mass spectrometers and separation technologies to enable world class research.

Resources

  • Leco BT MS-GC

    Leco BT MS-GC Electron impact-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer coupled to a GC (gas chromatography based system) from Agilent with Gerstel injector and autosampler that allows the measurement of small molecules and is especially useful for polar molecules, including many compounds in the central carbon metabolism.

  • Markes UNITY-xr

    Markes UNITY-xr (thermal desorption unit) coupled to a Leco BT MS with Agilent GCxGC to measure volatile compounds in breath.

  • Two Thermo Quantiva

    Two Thermo Quantiva, a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer to allow the measurement of small molecules and lipids. Its fast scanning speeds make it particularly useful for targeted quantitative analysis and it can be combined with liquid chromatography for prior separation of complex biological matrices.

  • Thermo Exploris 240

    This orbitrap mass spectrometer with high sensitivity is ideally suited for biomarker determination in low sample size matrices. The high mass resolution of the Exploris 240 in combination with liquid chromatography is therefore optimal for hypothesis generating untargeted qualitative analyses of polar metabolites and lipids.

  • Sciex 5500+ and Sciex 5500

    Sciex 5500+ and Sciex 5500 triple quadrupole mass spectrometers for Biocrates kit based analysis (AbsoluteIDQ p180 kit, AbsoluteIDQ p400 kit, MxP Quant500 kit with XL upgrade, AbsoluteIDQ Stero17 kit, AbsoluteIDQ Bile acid kit) and lipid analysis via direct injection and differential ion mobility shift mode.

  • Waters Synapt XS: Q-TOF technology

    Waters Synapt XS: Q-TOF technology for (i) LC-MS untargeted analysis of lipids and polar metabolites, (ii) DESI source for metabolic imaging of tissue sections, (iii) REIMS source, iknife application for untargeted analysis of tissue biopsies and (iv) untargeted metabolic imaging of tissue sections using Triversa Nanomate (Advion).

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