Metabolomics
Metabolomics is the systematic, large-scale study of small-molecule metabolites (< ~1500 Da) — such as amino acids, lipids, sugars, and organic acids — present in a biological sample, reflecting the downstream functional output of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic changes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to chromatography are the primary analytical platforms, capable of detecting hundreds to thousands of metabolites simultaneously. Metabolomics is applied in biomarker discovery, drug toxicology, nutritional science, and understanding metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
Major Classes of Metabolites and Their Roles
| Metabolite Class | Examples | Molecular Weight Range | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amino acids | Glycine, Leucine, Glutamate | 75–204 Da | Protein building blocks, neurotransmitters |
| Sugars / carbohydrates | Glucose, Fructose, Lactate | 90–342 Da | Energy currency and storage |
| Lipids | Cholesterol, Palmitic acid | 200–900 Da | Membrane structure, signalling, energy |
| Nucleotides | ATP, AMP, NAD+ | 347–663 Da | Energy transfer, coenzymes |
| Organic acids | Citrate, Succinate, Pyruvate | 88–192 Da | Central metabolic intermediates (TCA) |
| Secondary metabolites | Resveratrol, Flavonoids | 200–600 Da | Plant defence, pharmaceutical activity |
Interactive Tools
Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
Comprehensive database of human metabolites with spectral, chemical, and clinical data
Open ToolMetaboAnalyst
Web-based platform for comprehensive metabolomics data analysis and visualisation
Open ToolKEGG Metabolic Pathways
Map metabolites onto known metabolic pathways for pathway enrichment analysis
Open Tool
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Related Terms
Proteomics
Proteomics is the large-scale study of the entire complement of proteins (the proteome) expressed by a genome, cell, tissue, or organism at a given time and under specific conditions. Unlike the static genome, the proteome is highly dynamic — proteins vary in abundance, post-translational modifications (PTMs), localisation, and interactions in response to cellular state and environment. Mass spectrometry combined with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis or liquid chromatography is the primary technology platform used to identify, quantify, and characterise proteins at a systems level.
Systems Biology
Systems biology is an integrative, holistic approach to understanding biological organisms by studying the complex interactions among components — genes, proteins, metabolites, and cells — rather than examining them in isolation. It combines high-throughput experimental data (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) with mathematical modelling, network analysis, and computational simulation to predict emergent behaviours of living systems. Applications include understanding drug resistance, modelling disease progression, and designing synthetic gene circuits.
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops and applies computational methods, algorithms, and software tools to analyse and interpret large-scale biological data, particularly sequences of DNA, RNA, and proteins. It integrates biology, computer science, mathematics, and statistics to address problems such as genome assembly, sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, and structural prediction. The field is indispensable for modern genomics, drug discovery, and personalised medicine.
From Greek "metabole" (change) + "-omics" (large-scale study). The term was introduced by Oliver Fiehn in 2001, though related concepts under "metabolic profiling" appeared in the 1970s with NMR work by George Nicholson.