Technological Platforms

Metabolomics: investigating life's final signature.

Mass spectrometry (MS) based metabolomics is a new technology offering the means of fast quantification of hundreds of metabolites in a single sample. As a result, simultaneous analysis of many cellular pathways is now possible, allowing the investigation of response to normal physiological changes or life threatening conditions. The high sensitivity of this technology provides a powerful tool for unravelling metabolic signatures of specific diseases, to diagnose and classify them, as well as evaluate therapeutical efficacy of drugs.

Currently, metabolomic profiling is performed using a number of techniques, including high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). While NMR has its advantages in highly selective and non-destructive analysis, LC/MS displays much better sensitivity and resolution. The development of ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) has made it possible to achieve even higher resolutions, higher sensitivities, and shorter separation time. This technique, when combined with orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS), with its exact molecule size measurements, is undoubtedly the most suitable system form metabolomic studies.

CIC bioGUNE is currently applying UPLC-based metabolomics to understand molecular mechanisms involved in infectious, neurological and metabolic disorders. Its analytical facility includes two liquid-chromatography interfaced mass spectrometers.

Waters LCT Premier XE

Orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass analyser delivers high full-scan sensitivity, resolution, and exact mass measurements ideal for the high throughput, selective analysis of hundreds to thousands of metabolites found in biological fluids and tissues. Its enhanced resolution (up to 15,000 FWHM over 30,000 m/z) spectral data provides improved specificity, while the use of elemental composition calculations results in an increased confidence in the data. For difficult and complex samples, the rapid spectral acquisition rate and wide dynamic range provide optimized detection, making it the ideal MS instrument for qualitative applications. Waters LCT Premier XE is a powerful instrument for MS analysis, with which total system solutions may be designed to maximize data quality for many scientific applications.

The SYNAPT G2 provides the resolution in excess of 40,000 FWHM, class-leading sensitivity, data-acquisition rate of 20 spectra/second, exact mass (1ppm RMS) information and a dynamic range of up to five orders of magnitude. The system features Quantof technology which combines a high field pusher and dual-stage reflectron with a novel ion-detection system in an optimised, folded, TOF geometry. These features give us a new level of high resolution, exact mass and quantitative performance, available at acquisition rates compatible with UPLC separations. We no longer need to compromise mass resolution to achieve good chromatographic resolution and high speed, selectivity and specificity.

Services:

- General Metabolism:

- Toxicity:

     - Analysis of reactive metabolites associated to hepatotoxicity using trapping agents (in-vitro drug-toxicity study).

     - Non-invasive detection and quantitation of liver toxicity based on targeted metabolic profiling of serum samples (LIVERTOX, in-vivo drug-toxicity study).

If your are interested in any of these services please contact us for further details.

• Email: jfalcon@cicbiogune.es
• Phone: 944.061.319 (int. 219)
• Address: Parque Tecnológico de Vizcaya
  Ed. 801A Derio (Vizcaya)