功能代谢组学技术在微生物研究中的应用

功能代谢组学是以代谢组学技术发现关键代谢物为基础,结合体内体外实验和分子生物学等技术手段,研究差异代谢物及相关蛋白、酶和基因的功能,从而揭示生物体内在的分子调控机制。功能代谢组学技术具有精准识别关键调控代谢物及其相关基因或酶的特性,近年来在微生物相关疾病的防控和工业化生产等方面受到了广泛的关注。本文介绍了功能代谢组学技术的分析流程、相关研究方法与平台及其在微生物研究方面的应用,其中重点阐述了真核、原核以及病毒微生物的代谢特性、调控靶点及相关防控策略等。最后,提出功能代谢组学研究在未来面临的问题与挑战,为后续功能代谢组学的研究与发展提供新的思路。     

功能代谢组学技术在微生物研究中的应用

功能代谢组学是以代谢组学技术发现关键代谢物为基础,结合体内体外实验和分子生物学等技术手段,研究差异代谢物及相关蛋白、酶和基因的功能,从而揭示生物体内在的分子调控机制。功能代谢组学技术具有精准识别关键调控代谢物及其相关基因或酶的特性,近年来在微生物相关疾病的防控和工业化生产等方面受到了广泛的关注。本文介绍了功能代谢组学技术的分析流程、相关研究方法与平台及其在微生物研究方面的应用,其中重点阐述了真核、原核以及病毒微生物的代谢特性、调控靶点及相关防控策略等。最后,提出功能代谢组学研究在未来面临的问题与挑战,为后续功能代谢组学的研究与发展提供新的思路。     

多组学分析在昆虫滞育中的应用

组学技术将生物的相关问题分别展现在基因、蛋白质和代谢物等不同层次水平上，已成为解读生命过程的重要工具。本文分别从转录组学、蛋白质组学、代谢组学以及组学间的联合应用等方面概括总结了组学技术在昆虫滞育研究中的应用情况，阐述了以转录组学、蛋白质组学和代谢组学为代表的多组学技术在昆虫滞育调控分子机制中取得的重要成果，并针对当前研究现状，对昆虫滞育中组学技术应用的前景和局限性进行了总结和展望，以期为昆虫滞育调控分子机制的研究提供参考依据。     

果树代谢组学研究进展

果树代谢组学是继基因组学、蛋白质组学之后又一新兴的组学技术,主要是从代谢水平研究果树整体或局部代谢物变化差异,帮助发现新功能基因和了解代谢网络。目前果树代谢组学研究刚刚起步,相关研究相对较少,该文介绍了果树代谢组学的主要研究内容与方法以及在果树上的相关应用。     

基于代谢组学技术的植物抗病相关代谢物研究进展

植物受到病原真菌侵染时往往通过调节体内代谢物的产生来增强自身抗性,代谢组学技术是研究植物抗病相关代谢物的重要工具。指认植物抗病相关代谢物不仅利于深入探讨其抗病机制,还可与其他组学技术结合,辅助抗性品种鉴定和抗病品种培育。该研究对近年来国内外有关基于代谢组学技术指认植物抗病相关代谢物的流程、已发现的抗病相关代谢物及其作用机制的研究进展进行综述,并探讨了目前应用代谢组学技术研究植物抗病相关代谢物过程中面临的挑战。     

微生物代谢组学的前处理及分析技术

微生物代谢组学主要研究细胞生长或生长周期某一时刻细胞内外所有低分子量代谢物。分析技术的不断发展促进了微生物代谢组学研究的进展。本文结合微生物样品前处理方法, 综述了目前研究中所采用的各种分析技术的特点与应用, 并展望微生物代谢组学研究中分析技术的发展趋势。     

菌物代谢组学应用及存在的问题

代谢组学是一个可灵敏捕捉各种生物或非生物因素导致的供试样本中小分子代谢成分变化及其规律的实验方法,被广泛应用于生理生化、病理药理、生物工程、化学生态等很多方面。由于菌物种群数量庞大、未知结构次生代谢产物众多,严重影响到生物标记物的鉴定和进一步深入分析。为此,在总结目前菌物代谢组研究成果的基础上,结合十年的菌物代谢组学研究经验,提出如果要提高菌物代谢组学研究水平,就必须要加快菌物代谢物数据库以及基因组数据库的建设,同时,选择合理的代谢组学方法和多组学多方法联合分析也是现阶段提升菌物代谢组学研究水平的最可行的办法之一。     

植物响应盐胁迫组学研究进展

盐胁迫对植物生长的影响主要表现在离子毒害、渗透胁迫以及次级氧化胁迫等,植物遭受盐胁迫时迅速启动相关基因,进行转录调控,进而合成相应蛋白质来控制代谢物合成和离子转运以调节渗透平衡。随着现代分子生物学迅速发展,对植物耐盐机理研究也深入到了转录组、蛋白质组、代谢组及离子组等水平,"组学"研究为耐盐基因鉴定及标志性代谢物的挖掘等提供了有力手段。该文对近年来国内外有关转录组学、蛋白质组学、代谢组学、离子组学的主要研究方法及在盐胁迫中的应用研究进展进行综述,以揭示植物耐盐机理,为优良耐盐碱植物的筛选与培育提供支持。     

代谢组学技术及其在临床研究中的应用

在后基因组时代, 系统生物学研究成为人们关注的焦点。转录组学、蛋白质组学等功能基因组学研究方法可同时检测药物或其他因素影响下大量基因或蛋白质的表达变化情况, 但这些变化不能与生物学功能的变化建立直接联系。代谢组学方法则可为代谢物含量变化与生物表型变化建立直接相关性。代谢组学研究的目的是定量分析一个生物系统内所有代谢物的含量, 进行全面代谢物分析需要分析化学技术的支撑, 核磁共振和基于质谱的分析技术是代谢组学研究的两种主要技术手段。代谢组学研究可产生大量数据信息, 对这些数据进行分析离不开化学统计学的应用, 比如主成分分析、多维缩放、各种聚类分析技术以及功能差异分析等。文章综述了近年来代谢组学分析技术及数据分析技术的研究进展, 在此基础上, 对代谢组学在临床研究及临床前研究中的应用研究进展进行了综述。对疾病代谢表型图谱的研究有助于人们了解疾病发生、发展以及致死的机制; 在临床条件下, 这些代谢图谱可以作为疾病诊断、预后以及治疗的评判标准。代谢物组成的变化是毒物胁迫对机体造成的最终影响, 利用代谢组技术可以直接反映毒物对机体的影响。质谱技术、核磁共振技术的应用使得药物筛选过程可以快速完成, 并有助于实现个性化用药。此外, 利用代谢组学技术还可以进行已知酶的新活性研究, 也可以研究未知酶。     

代谢组学技术在水产动物疾病研究中的应用

代谢组学是定量描述生物内源性代谢物质的整体及其对内因和外因变化应答规律的的一门新学科。近年来,代谢组学技术在水产动物疾病中的研究备受关注,特别是为感染性疾病发生机制及防控研究提供了一种新的手段。本文介绍了代谢组学技术及其在水产动物研究中的应用,包括代谢组学技术在水产动物感染性疾病、细菌耐药及环境应激等方面应用进行综述,分析了代谢组学在水产动物疾病研究中面临的问题与挑战,并对未来水产动物代谢组学研究趋势进行了展望,以期为代谢组学技术在水产动物疾病发病机制和药物研发方面更深入的运用提供参考。     

Mass spectrometry based environmental metabolomics: a primer and review

Environmental metabolomics can be described as the study of the interactions of living organisms with their natural environments at the metabolic level. Until recently, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been the primary bioanalytical tool for measuring metabolite levels in this field. While NMR has some specific advantages, the higher sensitivity offered by mass spectrometry (MS) is beginning to revolutionise our ability to probe environmental metabolomes. This review provides the first comprehensive overview of the use and capabilities of MS within environmental metabolomics. Its primary aims are to introduce environmental scientists to the range of MS approaches used in metabolomics and to highlight the breadth and diversity of environmental and ecological research conducted, from ecophysiology and ecotoxicology to chemical ecology. The review is structured around MS approaches: non-targeted gas chromatography–MS, non-targeted directed infusion MS, and both non-targeted and targeted liquid chromatography–MS. Each section begins with a brief introduction to the analytical method, including some advantages and limitations in the context of metabolomics research, and then exemplifies the use of that technique in environmental metabolomics. The review concludes with a discussion on some of the challenges that remain in MS based environmental metabolomics and provides recommendations for the path ahead.

     

Mass spectrometry based environmental metabolomics: a primer and review

Environmental metabolomics can be described as the study of the interactions of living organisms with their natural environments at the metabolic level. Until recently, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been the primary bioanalytical tool for measuring metabolite levels in this field. While NMR has some specific advantages, the higher sensitivity offered by mass spectrometry (MS) is beginning to revolutionise our ability to probe environmental metabolomes. This review provides the first comprehensive overview of the use and capabilities of MS within environmental metabolomics. Its primary aims are to introduce environmental scientists to the range of MS approaches used in metabolomics and to highlight the breadth and diversity of environmental and ecological research conducted, from ecophysiology and ecotoxicology to chemical ecology. The review is structured around MS approaches: non-targeted gas chromatography–MS, non-targeted directed infusion MS, and both non-targeted and targeted liquid chromatography–MS. Each section begins with a brief introduction to the analytical method, including some advantages and limitations in the context of metabolomics research, and then exemplifies the use of that technique in environmental metabolomics. The review concludes with a discussion on some of the challenges that remain in MS based environmental metabolomics and provides recommendations for the path ahead.     

The yeast metabolome addressed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: Initiation of a mass spectral library and its applications for metabolic footprinting by direct infusion mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) has been a major driver for metabolomics, and gas chromatography (GC)-MS has been one of the primary techniques used for microbial metabolomics. The use of liquid chromatography (LC)-MS has however been limited, but electrospray ionization (ESI) is very well suited for ionization of microbial metabolites without any previous derivatization needed. To address the capabilities of ESI-MS in detecting the metabolome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the in silico metabolome of this organism was used as a template to present a theoretical metabolome. This showed that in combination with the specificity of MS up to 84% of the metabolites can be identified in a high mass accuracy ESI-spectrum. A total of 66 metabolites were systematically analyzed by positive and negative ESI-MS/MS with the aim of initiating a spectral library for ESI of microbial metabolites. This systematic analysis gave insight into the ionization and fragmentation characteristics of the different metabolites. With this insight, a small study of metabolic footprinting with ESI-MS demonstrated that biological information can be extracted from footprinting spectra. Statistical analysis of the footprinting data revealed discriminating ions, which could be assigned using the in silico metabolome. By this approach metabolic footprinting can advance from a classification method that is used to derive biological information based on guilt-by-association, to a tool for extraction of metabolic differences, which can guide new targeted biological experiments. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Metabolomics, pathway regulation, and pathway discovery

Metabolomics is a data-based research strategy, the aims of which are to identify biomarker pictures of metabolic systems and metabolic perturbations and to formulate hypotheses to be tested. It involves the assay by mass spectrometry or NMR of many metabolites present in the biological system investigated. In this minireview, we outline studies in which metabolomics led to useful biomarkers of metabolic processes. We also illustrate how the discovery potential of metabolomics is enhanced by associating it with stable isotopic techniques.     

Metabolomics

Metabolomics is the systematic identification and quantitation of all metabolites in a given organism or biological sample. The enhanced resolution provided by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS), along with powerful chemometric software, allows the simultaneous determination and comparison of thousands of chemical entities, which has lead to an expansion of small molecule biochemistry studies in bacteria, plants, and mammals. Continued development of these analytical platforms will accelerate the widespread use of metabolomics and allow further integration of small molecules into systems biology. Here, recent studies using metabolomics in xenobiotic metabolism and genetically modified mice are highlighted.     

Mass spectrometry strategies in metabolomics

MS has evolved as a critical component in metabolomics, which seeks to answer biological questions through large-scale qualitative and quantitative analyses of the metabolome. MS-based metabolomics techniques offer an excellent combination of sensitivity and selectivity, and they have become an indispensable platform in biology and metabolomics. In this minireview, various MS technologies used in metabolomics are briefly discussed, and future needs are suggested.     

The ABRF Metabolomics Research Group 2013 Study: Investigation of Spiked Compound Differences in a Human Plasma Matrix

Metabolomics is an emerging field that involves qualitative and quantitative measurements of small molecule metabolites in a biological system. These measurements can be useful for developing biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, or predicting response to therapy. Currently, a wide variety of metabolomics approaches, including nontargeted and targeted profiling, are used across laboratories on a routine basis. A diverse set of analytical platforms, such as NMR, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Orbitrap mass spectrometry, and time-of-flight-mass spectrometry, which use various chromatographic and ionization techniques, are used for resolution, detection, identification, and quantitation of metabolites from various biological matrices. However, few attempts have been made to standardize experimental methodologies or comparative analyses across different laboratories. The Metabolomics Research Group of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities organized a “round-robin” experiment type of interlaboratory study, wherein human plasma samples were spiked with different amounts of metabolite standards in 2 groups of biologic samples (A and B). The goal was a study that resembles a typical metabolomics analysis. Here, we report our efforts and discuss challenges that create bottlenecks for the field. Finally, we discuss benchmarks that could be used by laboratories to compare their methodologies.     

Use of reconstituted metabolic networks to assist in metabolomic data visualization and mining

Metabolomics experiments seldom achieve their aim of comprehensively covering the entire metabolome. However, important information can be gleaned even from sparse datasets, which can be facilitated by placing the results within the context of known metabolic networks. Here we present a method that allows the automatic assignment of identified metabolites to positions within known metabolic networks, and, furthermore, allows automated extraction of sub-networks of biological significance. This latter feature is possible by use of a gap-filling algorithm. The utility of the algorithm in reconstructing and mining of metabolomics data is shown on two independent datasets generated with LC–MS LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Biologically relevant metabolic sub-networks were extracted from both datasets. Moreover, a number of metabolites, whose presence eluded automatic selection within mass spectra, could be identified retrospectively by virtue of their inferred presence through gap filling.     

Illuminating the dark metabolome to advance the molecular characterisation of biological systems

Background

The latest version of the Human Metabolome Database (v4.0) lists 114,100 individual entries. Typically, however, metabolomics studies identify only around 100 compounds and many features identified in mass spectra are listed only as ‘unknown compounds’. The lack of ability to detect all metabolites present, and fully identify all metabolites detected (the dark metabolome) means that, despite the great contribution of metabolomics to a range of areas in the last decade, a significant amount of useful information from publically funded studies is being lost or unused each year. This loss of data limits our potential gain in knowledge and understanding of important research areas such as cell biology, environmental pollution, plant science, food chemistry and health and biomedical research. Metabolomics therefore needs to develop new tools and methods for metabolite identification to advance as a field.

Aim of review

In this critical review, some potential issues with metabolite identification are identified and discussed. New and novel emerging technologies and tools which may contribute to expanding the number of compounds identified in metabolomics studies (thus illuminating the dark metabolome) are reviewed. The aim is to stimulate debate and research in the molecular characterisation of biological systems to drive forward metabolomic research.

Key scientific concepts of review

The work specifically discusses dynamic nuclear polarisation nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DNP-NMR), non-proton NMR active nuclei, two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). It is suggested that developing new methods for metabolomics with these techniques could lead to advances in the field and better characterisation of biological systems.