Metabolomics
The metabolomics lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation for separations and metabolite detection/identification. The lab’s two main analytical platforms are CE-MS and GC-MS. For data analysis we have mass spectral libraries, an online relational database (EMIS), and specialist software for multivariate statistics.
Success stories & firsts
Notable success stories in the first years of the lab’s operation include:
- First identification and quantification of peptides in soil (APCE 2011)
- First comprehensive profiling of polar metabolites in the model tree species Eucalyptus (Plant, Cell and Environment 34: 1609–1629; Metabolomics DOI 10.1007/s11306-011-0299-y)
- Discovery of two metabolites responsible for osmotic adjustment in Acacia spp. that were overlooked by the previous 30+ years of research (Plant, Cell and Environment 34: 1609–1629)
- First GC-MS mass spectral database for methane and ammonia chemical ionization (Metabolomics DOI: 10.1007/s11306-011-0346-8)
Services available
|
GC-MS |
Cost* ($AUD/sample) |
|---|---|
|
Targeted analysis of amino acids/amines (~25 common amino acids plus others on request) |
35 |
| Targeted analysis of carbohydrates (mono-, di- and tri-saccharides) | 35 |
| Targeted analysis of FAMES | please enquire |
| Untargeted metabolite profiling (amino acids, organic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar phosphates, cyclic sugars etc.) | 45 |
| Biomarker compounds (e.g. D/L amino acids, muramic acid, aminosugars, ergosterol) | please enquire |
| CE-MS |
Cost* ($AUD/sample) |
|---|---|
|
Profiling of cations |
please enquire |
| Profiling of anions | please enquire |
| MS and MS/MS of peptides | please enquire |
| Metabolic fingerprinting by direct infusion MS | please enquire |
*Costs are indicative values applicable to academic customers with non-commercial samples. Minimum sample numbers apply. Costs are charged irrespective of results. Please e-mail Assoc Prof Charles Warren to find out more about services and costs.
Analytical workflow
A simplified generic workflow for untargeted metabolomics is shown in the figure below. Note that to obtain a broad coverage of the metabolome we commonly use multiple mass spectrometry platforms (e.g. GC-MS and CE-MS) in combination with multiple separation modes (e.g. CE-MS of anions, CE-MS of cations) and derivatization schemes.
Metabolomics workflow (from Lee et al 2010 BioTechniques 49:557–565)