Special Issue "Analytical Techniques in Metabolomics"
A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2012)
Dr. Per Bruheim
Department of Biotechnology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Interests: mass spectrometry; metabolomics; metabolic engineering; secondary metabolites; biomakers
Metabolomics face particular analytical challenges due to the diverse physico-chemical properties of the metabolites; ranging from highly negatively charged organic acids and phosphometabolites to hydrophobic species such as fatty acids, steroids and pigments. Hence, at present no single analytical method can cover the whole Metabolome. Mass spectrometry (MS) and magnetic resonance (NMR) are the two main analytical technologies for analysis of metabolite pools, the former in combination with separation techniques as gas and liquid chromatography. Broadly, Metabolomics can be divided in two approaches: targeted and non-targeted analysis; the former delivering quantification of known metabolites while the latter approach is mostly used to classify samples and potential identification of unknown metabolites. Both approaches have benefitted strongly by recent technological developments, as the analytical instruments have become more sensitive and with higher resolution and accuracy. Therefore, this special issue in Metabolites will cover both qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques used to analyze metabolite pools as well as aspects on sample preparation and data processing.
Dr. Per Bruheim