Trends in metabolomics
Event preview: SCI London, 21 September 2007
Metabolomic methods have been used extensively to study the profiles of the small molecular weight components of the metabolic pool. These techniques have been particularly widely applied in the study of the impact of disease, therapeutic agents, and poisons on metabolism. Early studies used mainly nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) spectroscopy.
Classical multivariate analytical methods were used to identify differences in the pattern of metabolites between treated and control samples. This information has been used with great success to determine what changes in metabolism are associated with treatment or disease state. In recent years there have been many exciting advances in the analytical tools and strategies applied in metabolomic studies, and an expansion of the areas in which this approach is used.
This meeting brings together leading researchers who are applying these methods in studies in a wide range of organisms including micro-organisms, higher plants, and invertebrates.
The seven presentations in this single day event will cover a wide range of applications, and the first paper will address the important underlying issue of optimising analytical strategies. Some of the presentations will look at the use of these methods in determining the impact of genetic modification on metabolism, highlighting some expected, and also unexpected, changes.
The programme aims to reflect recent advances in both the analytical tools and software that allow rapid and detailed data acquisition, and, equally importantly, data interpretation. This theme is illustrated using a wide range of applications in order to stimulate discussions and to inform end users of new methods that could be transferred to other applications.
Richard Greenwood
University of Portsmouth
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