Metabolomics Core Facility

Metabolomics Core Facility offers many types of analysis of small molecules to internal and external customers.

The Metabolomics Core Facility within the Biochemistry Department was established in 2017 by Dr. Hamid Baniasadi. The facility focuses on targeted metabolomics (quantitation and validation) and untargeted metabolomics (discovery of metabolites).

The core is equipped with a Sciex QTRAP 6500+ mass spectrometer and a Sciex TripleTOF 6600 high resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS). The mass spectrometers are coupled to Shimadzu high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems (Nexera X2 LC-30AD) for separation and detection of various classes of metabolites in biological samples.

We are able to detect and quantify up to 207 polar metabolites using our targeted metabolomics approach and up to 381 polar metabolites in biological samples using our in house MS/MS library and untargeted metabolomics approach. The detected metabolites are involved with more than 50 pathways, including:

  • Pyrimidine and Purine metabolism
  • Amino acids
  • Citrate cycle (TCA cycle)
  • Pentose phosphate
  • Glycolysis / Gluconeogenesis pathway

The Metabolomics Core Facility also provides other services including:

  • Untargeted metabolomics (discovery of potential biomarkers),
  • Exact mass measurement using high-resolution mass spectrometry for identification/verification of synthesized compounds
  • Absolute quantification of a set of metabolites
  • Method development
  • Statistical analysis
  • Consultation for sample preparation
  • Experimental design based on request