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MetabolomicsMetabolomics is the science and technology of the measurement, identification, and quantification of metabolites in living systems. Metabolites are sensitive to genetics and the environment, and they are closely related to behavioral phenotypes. In a systems biology analysis, metabolomics can provide important data that can improve the understanding and interpretation of other omics such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. |
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High Sensitivity NMR Probe DevelopmentNMR is inherently very insensitive but it is one of the most important analytical techniques for metabolomics, natural product discovery and structural biology. To improve the situation, we have worked with engineering groups at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and elsewhere in the world to develop new NMR probes that will enhance applications in protein and natural product studies. We previously developed a unique 1-mm high temperature superconducting (HTS) probe with Bruker and the NHMFL (Bill Brey, Rich Withers, and Rob Nast). Although no longer operational, the 1-mm HTS probe is one of the most mass sensitive probes in the world. These probes have coils that are made from thin films of YBCO deposited onto sapphire substrates to achieve very high Q. |
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Unknown Compound IdentificationUnknown compound identification is a major challenge in metabolomics. Even establishing broad definitions of an “unknown compound” is not straightforward. An unlikely source of clarification (some might say confusion) to our field came from former US Defense Sectretary, Donald Rumsfeld, who once said
Following Rumsfeld, a “known known” is a metabolite in a reference database that can be matched with an experimental dataset. A “known unknown” is a metabolite that has been found before but is not in an accessible database. An “unknown unknown” is a metabolite that has not been discovered. The NIH Metabolomics Common Fund has funded 5 centers in the US to improve unknown metabolite identification. Our lab leads one of these centers, and our project is titled Genetics and Quantum Chemistry as Tools for Unknown Metabolite Identification. We are using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans and comparing both known mutants and natural isolates with the reference strain PD1074. We collaborate with Erik Anderson on C. elegans and Lauren McIntyre on study design and biostatistics. The conceptual steps that we use in this project are:
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ClockUnder construction |
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Carbon Cycling in the OceanUnder construction |
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Cell based therapeuticsUnder construction |
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Stress in PregnacyUnder construction |
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Dog NutritionUnder construction |