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Muhamadali H, Winder CL, Dunn WB, Goodacre R. Unlocking the secrets of the microbiome: exploring the dynamic microbial interplay with humans through metabolomics and their manipulation for synthetic biology applications. Biochem J 2023; 480:891-908. [PMID: 37378961 PMCID: PMC10317162 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Metabolomics is a powerful research discovery tool with the potential to measure hundreds to low thousands of metabolites. In this review, we discuss the application of GC-MS and LC-MS in discovery-based metabolomics research, we define metabolomics workflows and we highlight considerations that need to be addressed in order to generate robust and reproducible data. We stress that metabolomics is now routinely applied across the biological sciences to study microbiomes from relatively simple microbial systems to their complex interactions within consortia in the host and the environment and highlight this in a range of biological species and mammalian systems including humans. However, challenges do still exist that need to be overcome to maximise the potential for metabolomics to help us understanding biological systems. To demonstrate the potential of the approach we discuss the application of metabolomics in two broad research areas: (1) synthetic biology to increase the production of high-value fine chemicals and reduction in secondary by-products and (2) gut microbial interaction with the human host. While burgeoning in importance, the latter is still in its infancy and will benefit from the development of tools to detangle host-gut-microbial interactions and their impact on human health and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howbeer Muhamadali
- Centre for Metabolomics Research, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
| | - Catherine L. Winder
- Centre for Metabolomics Research, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
| | - Warwick B. Dunn
- Centre for Metabolomics Research, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
| | - Royston Goodacre
- Centre for Metabolomics Research, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
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2
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Biosynthesis-based spatial metabolome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by combining metabolomics approaches with mass spectrometry-imaging. Talanta 2022; 238:123045. [PMID: 34801902 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Defining the spatial distributions of metabolites and their structures are the two key aspects for interpreting the complexities of biosynthesis pathways in plants. As a means of obtaining information on the spatial distribution of metabolites, a strategy is needed that has high sensitivity and allows visualization. Toward this goal, we carried an untargeted metabolomics to obtain detailed metabolic information on different plant parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza, the roots of which are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Systematic optimization of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) including parameter selection and sample preparation were carried out to improve the sensitivity of the method for plant samples. Guided by the metabolomics data, the spatial distributions of diverse metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, tanshinones, carbohydrates, and lipids, were characterized and visualized for both the underground and aerial parts. To integrate the information pertaining to the spatial distribution of metabolites, the flavonoids and phenolic acids (phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway) were chosen as examples for in-depth study the biosynthesis pathways in S. miltiorrhiza. The complementary data obtained from the metabolomics study and mass spectrometry imaging enabled the identification of key reactions involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in flowers, which lead the changes in metabolite distribution. The analysis also identified the core precursor for phenolic acid biosynthesis in Salvia species. Therefore, the powerful combination of metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging provides a basis for obtaining detailed information on spatial metabolome and constitutes a platform for deep understanding the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites in plants.
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Seyler L, Kujawinski EB, Azua-Bustos A, Lee MD, Marlow J, Perl SM, Cleaves II HJ. Metabolomics as an Emerging Tool in the Search for Astrobiologically Relevant Biomarkers. ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:1251-1261. [PMID: 32551936 PMCID: PMC7116171 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
It is now routinely possible to sequence and recover microbial genomes from environmental samples. To the degree it is feasible to assign transcriptional and translational functions to these genomes, it should be possible, in principle, to largely understand the complete molecular inputs and outputs of a microbial community. However, gene-based tools alone are presently insufficient to describe the full suite of chemical reactions and small molecules that compose a living cell. Metabolomic tools have developed quickly and now enable rapid detection and identification of small molecules within biological and environmental samples. The convergence of these technologies will soon facilitate the detection of novel enzymatic activities, novel organisms, and potentially extraterrestrial life-forms on solar system bodies. This review explores the methodological problems and scientific opportunities facing researchers who hope to apply metabolomic methods in astrobiology-related fields, and how present challenges might be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Seyler
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Address correspondence to: Lauren Seyler, Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 86 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Elizabeth B. Kujawinski
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Armando Azua-Bustos
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael D. Lee
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey Marlow
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott M. Perl
- Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, USA
- Mineral Sciences, Los Angeles Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Henderson James Cleaves II
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Geographical Research Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington
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Gabaldón T. Recent trends in molecular diagnostics of yeast infections: from PCR to NGS. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2019; 43:517-547. [PMID: 31158289 PMCID: PMC8038933 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuz015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of opportunistic yeast infections in humans has been increasing over recent years. These infections are difficult to treat and diagnose, in part due to the large number and broad diversity of species that can underlie the infection. In addition, resistance to one or several antifungal drugs in infecting strains is increasingly being reported, severely limiting therapeutic options and showcasing the need for rapid detection of the infecting agent and its drug susceptibility profile. Current methods for species and resistance identification lack satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, and often require prior culturing of the infecting agent, which delays diagnosis. Recently developed high-throughput technologies such as next generation sequencing or proteomics are opening completely new avenues for more sensitive, accurate and fast diagnosis of yeast pathogens. These approaches are the focus of intensive research, but translation into the clinics requires overcoming important challenges. In this review, we provide an overview of existing and recently emerged approaches that can be used in the identification of yeast pathogens and their drug resistance profiles. Throughout the text we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each methodology and discuss the most promising developments in their path from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Gabaldón
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Pg Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Chen Z, Zheng Z, Wang FL, Niu YP, Miao JL, Li H. Intracellular Metabolic Changes of Rhodococcus sp. LH During the Biodegradation of Diesel Oil. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018; 20:803-812. [PMID: 30218327 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-018-9850-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, some marine microbes have been used to degrade diesel oil. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the biodegradation are still poorly understood. In this study, a hypothermophilous marine strain, which can degrade diesel oil in cold seawater was isolated from Antarctic floe-ice and identified and named as Rhodococcus sp. LH. To clarify the biodegradation mechanisms, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabolomics strategy was performed to determine the diesel biodegradation process-associated intracellular biochemical changes in Rhodococcus sp. LH cells. With the aid of partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), 17 differential metabolites with variable importance in the projection (VIP) value greater than 1 were identified. Results indicated that the biodegradation of diesel oil by Rhodococcus sp. LH was affected by many different factors. Rhodococcus sp. LH could degrade diesel oil through terminal or sub-terminal oxidation reactions, and might also possess the ability to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, some surfactants, especially fatty acids, which were secreted by Rhodococcus into medium could also assist the strain in dispersing and absorbing diesel oil. Lack of nitrogen in the seawater would lead to nitrogen starvation, thereby restraining the amino acid circulation in Rhodococcus sp. LH. Moreover, nitrogen starvation could also promote the conversation of relative excess carbon source to storage materials, such as 1-monolinoleoylglycerol. These results would provide a comprehensive understanding about the complex mechanisms of diesel oil biodegradation by Rhodococcus sp. LH at the systematic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhou Zheng
- The First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, 266061, China
- Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China
| | - Feng-Lian Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yuan-Pu Niu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jin-Lai Miao
- The First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, 266061, China.
- Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China.
| | - Hao Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Tian J, Zhang S, Li H. Changes in intracellular metabolism underlying the adaptation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains to ethanol stress. ANN MICROBIOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-016-1251-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Gong ZG, Zhang J, Xu YJ. Metabolomics Reveals that Momordica charantia Attenuates Metabolic Changes in Experimental Obesity. Phytother Res 2016; 31:296-302. [PMID: 27878888 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Momordica charantia L., also known as bitter melon, has been shown to ameliorate obesity and insulin resistance. However, metabolic changes regulated by M. charantia in obesity are not clearly understood. In this study, serums obtained from obese and M. charantia-treated mice were analyzed by using gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and multivariate statistical analysis was performed by Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. The results from this study indicated that body weight fat and insulin levels of obese mice are dramatically suppressed by 8 weeks of dietary supplementation of M. charantia. Metabolomic data revealed that overproductions of energy and nutrient metabolism in obese mice were restored by M. charantia treatment. The antiinflammatory and inhibition of insulin resistance effect of M. charantia in obesity was illustrated with the restoration of free fatty acids and eicosanoids. The findings achieved in this study further strengthen the therapeutic value of using M. charantia to treat obesity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Gang Gong
- Key Lab of Training, Monitoring and Intervention of Aquatic Sports of General Administration of Sport of China, Faculty of Physical Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jianbing Zhang
- Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Xu
- Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Metabolic Fingerprinting of Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E Strains: Understanding the Influence of Divalent Cations in Adaptation Mechanisms Following Exposure to Toluene. Metabolites 2016; 6:metabo6020014. [PMID: 27128955 PMCID: PMC4931545 DOI: 10.3390/metabo6020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas putida strains can adapt and overcome the activity of toxic organic solvents by the employment of several resistant mechanisms including efflux pumps and modification to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in their membranes. Divalent cations such as magnesium and calcium play a crucial role in the development of solvent tolerance in bacterial cells. Here, we have used Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy directly on cells (metabolic fingerprinting) to monitor bacterial response to the absence and presence of toluene, along with the influence of divalent cations present in the growth media. Multivariate analysis of the data using principal component-discriminant function analysis (PC-DFA) showed trends in scores plots, illustrating phenotypic alterations related to the effect of Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and toluene on cultures. Inspection of PC-DFA loadings plots revealed that several IR spectral regions including lipids, proteins and polysaccharides contribute to the separation in PC-DFA space, thereby indicating large phenotypic response to toluene and these cations. Finally, the saturated fatty acid ratio from the FT-IR spectra showed that upon toluene exposure, the saturated fatty acid ratio was reduced, while it increased in the presence of divalent cations. This study clearly demonstrates that the combination of metabolic fingerprinting with appropriate chemometric analysis can result in practicable knowledge on the responses of important environmental bacteria to external stress from pollutants such as highly toxic organic solvents, and indicates that these changes are manifest in the bacterial cell membrane. Finally, we demonstrate that divalent cations improve solvent tolerance in P. putida DOT‑T1E strains.
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9
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Muhamadali H, Weaver D, Subaihi A, AlMasoud N, Trivedi DK, Ellis DI, Linton D, Goodacre R. Chicken, beams, and Campylobacter: rapid differentiation of foodborne bacteria via vibrational spectroscopy and MALDI-mass spectrometry. Analyst 2015; 141:111-22. [PMID: 26523729 DOI: 10.1039/c5an01945a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Campylobacter species are one of the main causes of food poisoning worldwide. Despite the availability of established culturing and molecular techniques, due to the fastidious nature of these microorganisms, simultaneous detection and species differentiation still remains challenging. This study focused on the differentiation of eleven Campylobacter strains from six species, using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopies, together with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), as physicochemical approaches for generating biochemical fingerprints. Cluster analysis of data from each of the three analytical approaches provided clear differentiation of each Campylobacter species, which was generally in agreement with a phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Notably, although C. fetus subspecies fetus and venerealis are phylogenetically very closely related, using FT-IR and MALDI-TOF-MS data these subspecies were readily differentiated based on differences in the lipid (2920 and 2851 cm(-1)) and fingerprint regions (1500-500 cm(-1)) of the FT-IR spectra, and the 500-2000 m/z region of the MALDI-TOF-MS data. A finding that was further investigated with targeted lipidomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Our results demonstrate that such metabolomics approaches combined with molecular biology techniques may provide critical information and knowledge related to the risk factors, virulence, and understanding of the distribution and transmission routes associated with different strains of foodborne Campylobacter spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howbeer Muhamadali
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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10
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Allwood JW, Chandra S, Xu Y, Dunn WB, Correa E, Hopkins L, Goodacre R, Tobin AK, Bowsher CG. Profiling of spatial metabolite distributions in wheat leaves under normal and nitrate limiting conditions. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2015; 115:99-111. [PMID: 25680480 PMCID: PMC4518043 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The control and interaction between nitrogen and carbon assimilatory pathways is essential in both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic tissue in order to support metabolic processes without compromising growth. Physiological differences between the basal and mature region of wheat (Triticum aestivum) primary leaves confirmed that there was a change from heterotrophic to autotrophic metabolism. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed the suitability and phenotypic reproducibility of the leaf growth conditions. Principal Component-Discriminant Function Analysis (PC-DFA) revealed distinct clustering between base, and tip sections of the developing wheat leaf, and from plants grown in the presence or absence of nitrate. Gas Chromatography-Time of Flight/Mass Spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS) combined with multivariate and univariate analyses, and Bayesian network (BN) analysis, distinguished different tissues and confirmed the physiological switch from high rates of respiration to photosynthesis along the leaf. The operation of nitrogen metabolism impacted on the levels and distribution of amino acids, organic acids and carbohydrates within the wheat leaf. In plants grown in the presence of nitrate there was reduced levels of a number of sugar metabolites in the leaf base and an increase in maltose levels, possibly reflecting an increase in starch turnover. The value of using this combined metabolomics analysis for further functional investigations in the future are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J William Allwood
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK; School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Surya Chandra
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Yun Xu
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Warwick B Dunn
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK; Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK; Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (CADET), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, York Place, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK; School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Elon Correa
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Laura Hopkins
- School of Biology, Biomolecular Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST Scotland, UK
| | - Royston Goodacre
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK; Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Alyson K Tobin
- Vice Chancellor's Office, York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York YO31 7EX, UK
| | - Caroline G Bowsher
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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Zhao C, Gu D, Nambou K, Wei L, Chen J, Imanaka T, Hua Q. Metabolome analysis and pathway abundance profiling of Yarrowia lipolytica cultivated on different carbon sources. J Biotechnol 2015; 206:42-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Metabolic Profiling of Geobacter sulfurreducens during Industrial Bioprocess Scale-Up. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:3288-98. [PMID: 25746987 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00294-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During the industrial scale-up of bioprocesses it is important to establish that the biological system has not changed significantly when moving from small laboratory-scale shake flasks or culturing bottles to an industrially relevant production level. Therefore, during upscaling of biomass production for a range of metal transformations, including the production of biogenic magnetite nanoparticles by Geobacter sulfurreducens, from 100-ml bench-scale to 5-liter fermentors, we applied Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a metabolic fingerprinting approach followed by the analysis of bacterial cell extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for metabolic profiling. FTIR results clearly differentiated between the phenotypic changes associated with different growth phases as well as the two culturing conditions. Furthermore, the clustering patterns displayed by multivariate analysis were in agreement with the turbidimetric measurements, which displayed an extended lag phase for cells grown in a 5-liter bioreactor (24 h) compared to those grown in 100-ml serum bottles (6 h). GC-MS analysis of the cell extracts demonstrated an overall accumulation of fumarate during the lag phase under both culturing conditions, coinciding with the detected concentrations of oxaloacetate, pyruvate, nicotinamide, and glycerol-3-phosphate being at their lowest levels compared to other growth phases. These metabolites were overlaid onto a metabolic network of G. sulfurreducens, and taking into account the levels of these metabolites throughout the fermentation process, the limited availability of oxaloacetate and nicotinamide would seem to be the main metabolic bottleneck resulting from this scale-up process. Additional metabolite-feeding experiments were carried out to validate the above hypothesis. Nicotinamide supplementation (1 mM) did not display any significant effects on the lag phase of G. sulfurreducens cells grown in the 100-ml serum bottles. However, it significantly improved the growth behavior of cells grown in the 5-liter bioreactor by reducing the lag phase from 24 h to 6 h, while providing higher yield than in the 100-ml serum bottles.
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Stable isotope-labeling studies in metabolomics: new insights into structure and dynamics of metabolic networks. Bioanalysis 2014; 6:511-24. [PMID: 24568354 DOI: 10.4155/bio.13.348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid emergence of metabolomics has enabled system-wide measurements of metabolites in various organisms. However, advances in the mechanistic understanding of metabolic networks remain limited, as most metabolomics studies cannot routinely provide accurate metabolite identification, absolute quantification and flux measurement. Stable isotope labeling offers opportunities to overcome these limitations. Here we describe some current approaches to stable isotope-labeled metabolomics and provide examples of the significant impact that these studies have had on our understanding of cellular metabolism. Furthermore, we discuss recently developed software solutions for the analysis of stable isotope-labeled metabolomics data and propose the bioinformatics solutions that will pave the way for the broader application and optimal interpretation of system-scale labeling studies in metabolomics.
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Prosser GA, Larrouy-Maumus G, de Carvalho LPS. Metabolomic strategies for the identification of new enzyme functions and metabolic pathways. EMBO Rep 2014; 15:657-69. [PMID: 24829223 PMCID: PMC4197876 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201338283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technological advances in accurate mass spectrometry and data analysis have revolutionized
metabolomics experimentation. Activity-based and global metabolomic profiling methods allow
simultaneous and rapid screening of hundreds of metabolites from a variety of chemical classes,
making them useful tools for the discovery of novel enzymatic activities and metabolic pathways. By
using the metabolome of the relevant organism or close species, these methods capitalize on
biological relevance, avoiding the assignment of artificial and non-physiological functions. This
review discusses state-of-the-art metabolomic approaches and highlights recent examples of their use
for enzyme annotation, discovery of new metabolic pathways, and gene assignment of orphan metabolic
activities across diverse biological sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth A Prosser
- Mycobacterial Research Division, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK
| | - Gerald Larrouy-Maumus
- Mycobacterial Research Division, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK
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15
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Xu YJ, Wang C, Ho WE, Ong CN. Recent developments and applications of metabolomics in microbiological investigations. Trends Analyt Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2013.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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16
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Kell DB, Goodacre R. Metabolomics and systems pharmacology: why and how to model the human metabolic network for drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2014; 19:171-82. [PMID: 23892182 PMCID: PMC3989035 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2013.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolism represents the 'sharp end' of systems biology, because changes in metabolite concentrations are necessarily amplified relative to changes in the transcriptome, proteome and enzyme activities, which can be modulated by drugs. To understand such behaviour, we therefore need (and increasingly have) reliable consensus (community) models of the human metabolic network that include the important transporters. Small molecule 'drug' transporters are in fact metabolite transporters, because drugs bear structural similarities to metabolites known from the network reconstructions and from measurements of the metabolome. Recon2 represents the present state-of-the-art human metabolic network reconstruction; it can predict inter alia: (i) the effects of inborn errors of metabolism; (ii) which metabolites are exometabolites, and (iii) how metabolism varies between tissues and cellular compartments. However, even these qualitative network models are not yet complete. As our understanding improves so do we recognise more clearly the need for a systems (poly)pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Kell
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Royston Goodacre
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
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Wiechert W, Nöh K. Isotopically non-stationary metabolic flux analysis: complex yet highly informative. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2013; 24:979-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2013.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Revised: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 03/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Stable isotope labeled metabolomics improves identification of novel metabolites and pathways. Bioanalysis 2013; 5:1807-10. [DOI: 10.4155/bio.13.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
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Combined fluxomics and transcriptomics analysis of glucose catabolism via a partially cyclic pentose phosphate pathway in Gluconobacter oxydans 621H. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:2336-48. [PMID: 23377928 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03414-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the distribution and regulation of periplasmic and cytoplasmic carbon fluxes in Gluconobacter oxydans 621H with glucose were studied by (13)C-based metabolic flux analysis ((13)C-MFA) in combination with transcriptomics and enzyme assays. For (13)C-MFA, cells were cultivated with specifically (13)C-labeled glucose, and intracellular metabolites were analyzed for their labeling pattern by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In growth phase I, 90% of the glucose was oxidized periplasmically to gluconate and partially further oxidized to 2-ketogluconate. Of the glucose taken up by the cells, 9% was phosphorylated to glucose 6-phosphate, whereas 91% was oxidized by cytoplasmic glucose dehydrogenase to gluconate. Additional gluconate was taken up into the cells by transport. Of the cytoplasmic gluconate, 70% was oxidized to 5-ketogluconate and 30% was phosphorylated to 6-phosphogluconate. In growth phase II, 87% of gluconate was oxidized to 2-ketogluconate in the periplasm and 13% was taken up by the cells and almost completely converted to 6-phosphogluconate. Since G. oxydans lacks phosphofructokinase, glucose 6-phosphate can be metabolized only via the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) or the Entner-Doudoroff pathway (EDP). (13)C-MFA showed that 6-phosphogluconate is catabolized primarily via the oxidative PPP in both phases I and II (62% and 93%) and demonstrated a cyclic carbon flux through the oxidative PPP. The transcriptome comparison revealed an increased expression of PPP genes in growth phase II, which was supported by enzyme activity measurements and correlated with the increased PPP flux in phase II. Moreover, genes possibly related to a general stress response displayed increased expression in growth phase II.
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Diabetes - the Role of Metabolomics in the Discovery of New Mechanisms and Novel Biomarkers. CURRENT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK REPORTS 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s12170-012-0282-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Madala NE, Tugizimana F, Steenkamp PA, Piater LA, Dubery IA. The Short and Long of it: Shorter Chromatographic Analysis Suffice for Sample Classification During UHPLC-MS-Based Metabolic Fingerprinting. Chromatographia 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10337-012-2336-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Creek DJ, Chokkathukalam A, Jankevics A, Burgess KEV, Breitling R, Barrett MP. Stable isotope-assisted metabolomics for network-wide metabolic pathway elucidation. Anal Chem 2012; 84:8442-7. [PMID: 22946681 PMCID: PMC3472505 DOI: 10.1021/ac3018795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
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The combination of high-resolution LC–MS-based
untargeted
metabolomics with stable isotope tracing provides a global overview
of the cellular fate of precursor metabolites. This methodology enables
detection of putative metabolites from biological samples and simultaneous
quantification of the pattern and extent of isotope labeling. Labeling
of Trypanosoma brucei cell cultures with 50% uniformly 13C-labeled glucose demonstrated incorporation of glucose-derived
carbon into 187 of 588 putatively identified metabolites in diverse
pathways including carbohydrate, nucleotide, lipid, and amino acid
metabolism. Labeling patterns confirmed the metabolic pathways responsible
for the biosynthesis of many detected metabolites, and labeling was
detected in unexpected metabolites, including two higher sugar phosphates
annotated as octulose phosphate and nonulose phosphate. This untargeted
approach to stable isotope tracing facilitates the biochemical analysis
of known pathways and yields rapid identification of previously unexplored
areas of metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J Creek
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
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Klein S, Heinzle E. Isotope labeling experiments in metabolomics and fluxomics. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2012; 4:261-72. [DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Nguyen QT, Merlo ME, Medema MH, Jankevics A, Breitling R, Takano E. Metabolomics methods for the synthetic biology of secondary metabolism. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:2177-83. [PMID: 22710183 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Many microbial secondary metabolites are of high biotechnological value for medicine, agriculture, and the food industry. Bacterial genome mining has revealed numerous novel secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, which encode the potential to synthesize a large diversity of compounds that have never been observed before. The stimulation or "awakening" of this cryptic microbial secondary metabolism has naturally attracted the attention of synthetic microbiologists, who exploit recent advances in DNA sequencing and synthesis to achieve unprecedented control over metabolic pathways. One of the indispensable tools in the synthetic biology toolbox is metabolomics, the global quantification of small biomolecules. This review illustrates the pivotal role of metabolomics for the synthetic microbiology of secondary metabolism, including its crucial role in novel compound discovery in microbes, the examination of side products of engineered metabolic pathways, as well as the identification of major bottlenecks for the overproduction of compounds of interest, especially in combination with metabolic modeling. We conclude by highlighting remaining challenges and recent technological advances that will drive metabolomics towards fulfilling its potential as a cornerstone technology of synthetic microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quoc-Thai Nguyen
- Department of Microbial Physiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Fuchs TM, Eisenreich W, Kern T, Dandekar T. Toward a Systemic Understanding of Listeria monocytogenes Metabolism during Infection. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:23. [PMID: 22347216 PMCID: PMC3271275 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne human pathogen that can cause invasive infection in susceptible animals and humans. For proliferation within hosts, this facultative intracellular pathogen uses a reservoir of specific metabolic pathways, transporter, and enzymatic functions whose expression requires the coordinated activity of a complex regulatory network. The highly adapted metabolism of L. monocytogenes strongly depends on the nutrient composition of various milieus encountered during infection. Transcriptomic and proteomic studies revealed the spatial-temporal dynamic of gene expression of this pathogen during replication within cultured cells or in vivo. Metabolic clues are the utilization of unusual C(2)- and C(3)-bodies, the metabolism of pyruvate, thiamine availability, the uptake of peptides, the acquisition or biosynthesis of certain amino acids, and the degradation of glucose-phosphate via the pentose phosphate pathway. These examples illustrate the interference of in vivo conditions with energy, carbon, and nitrogen metabolism, thus affecting listerial growth. The exploitation, analysis, and modeling of the available data sets served as a first attempt to a systemic understanding of listerial metabolism during infection. L. monocytogenes might serve as a model organism for systems biology of a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo M. Fuchs
- Abteilung Mikrobiologie, Zentralinstitut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelforschung, Technische Universität MünchenFreising, Germany
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobielle Ökologie, Department Biowissenschaften, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan, Technische Universität MünchenFreising, Germany
| | | | - Tanja Kern
- Abteilung Mikrobiologie, Zentralinstitut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelforschung, Technische Universität MünchenFreising, Germany
| | - Thomas Dandekar
- Abteilung Bioinformatik, Theodor-Boveri-Institut (Biozentrum), Universität WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
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Metabolomics-assisted synthetic biology. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2011; 23:22-8. [PMID: 22104721 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2011] [Revised: 10/27/2011] [Accepted: 10/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
As the world progresses from a fossil-fuel based economy to a more sustainable one, synthetic biology will become increasingly important for the production of high-value fine chemicals as well as low-value commodities in bulk. The integration of metabolomics and fluxomics within synthetic biology projects will be vital at all levels, including the initial design of the pathways to be generated, through to the optimisation of those pathways so that more efficient conversion of low-cost starting materials into highly desirable products can be achieved. This review highlights these areas and details the most important and exciting advances being made in this area.
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