A Simplified, Integrated Solution for Untargeted Metabolomics

Routine Discovery Workflows with the X500R QTOF System

Metabolomics focuses on the chemical processes central to cellular metabolism, giving scientists a snapshot of the cellular metabolic state, or metabolome at a given time. It consists of intermediates, conjugates, hormones, and even exogenous metabolites from food or the environment that have an impact on health. Mass spectrometry is the tool of choice for the measurements of these metabolites. However, they can be increasingly challenging workflows to setup for the novice metabolomics researcher or the technician. Therefore, a robust solution for screening metabolomics samples is of increased interest and the need for a more integrated and routine mass spectrometry system is in demand. The new X500R QTOF System was developed for routine, robust workflows and requires minimal MS expertise. The system integrates all data acquisition; processing and review as well as reporting into a single piece of easy to use, easy to learn software.

Cancer research represents a key area where metabolomics can provide new biomarkers of disease from easy to obtain biofluids such as urine or plasma. An untargeted screening approach using mass spectrometry that can be adopted by a broader range of research labs (not only the expert labs) would enable this valuable research to be more broadly performed. Here a small pilot study using a urine sample set from a previous prostate cancer study was used to determine whetherthe untargeted metabolomics workflow using the X500R System could find key differences between the samples.