What is Metabolomics?

Metabolomics is the comprehensive and quantitative analysis of all metabolites in biological materials (e.g. cells/tissues/plants/microbial extracts/biofluids such as blood or urine) combined with appropriate informatics for data extraction, mining and interpretation.

What can be achieved using Metabolomics?

Metabolite profiles reflect the conditions of the analysed material and provide useful indicators (biomarkers) of abnormalities. In combination with other functional genomics analyses it offers potential to understand the whole biological system. Metabolomics offers the opportunity to discover new pathways and give an understanding of the metabolic basis of a sample. This knowledge can be used in areas like biotechnology, diagnosis and breeding.

Equipment at UWA

We provide access to the most commonly used platforms for metabolite detection and measurement:

  • Agilent GC/MS system with SPME facility (using a MPS2 XL-Twister autosampler (Gerstel), a 7890A GC and a 5975C inert XL MSD with Triple-Axis Detector)
  • Agilent LC/MS system (using a 6340 Ion Trap with HPLC chip)
  • Dionex ICS-3000 Ion chromatography system

Methods

GC/MS: developed Standard Methods: plant tissues human and animal cells biofluids like blood & urine oils

Method development for other tissue is possible.

GC/MS can be used for metabolic profiling and quantitative analysis.

SPME (solid phase microextraction) allows sampling of all matrices whether liquid, solidor gaseous without using solvents.
LC/MS: still to be set up LC/MS can be used for metabolic fingerprinting and quantitative target analysis.
Dionex: still to be set up. The Dionex system is an advanced technology to separate Hydrocarbons.

Workshops

GC/MS workshop offered on a regular basis.

LC/MS workshop planed

Contacts

Ms Ricarda Fenske Mr Matthew Timmins

Technical and Operations Officer
Plant Energy Biology, ARC Centre of Excellence
MCS building (M316) -room 3.42
Phone: (08) 6488 4457

Development Scientist
Plant Energy Biology, ARC Centre of Excellence
MCS building (M316) - room 3.42
Phone: (08) 6488 4457
Email: ricarda.fenske@uwa.edu.au Email: matthew.timmins@uwa.edu.au

To find out more about Metabolomics Australia visit our Website

Where are other MA nodes?What services are offered in other nodes?

www.metabolomics.net.au



logos The Government of Western Australia The University of Western Australia Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology


Pathways