We offer commonly used and reproducible SOPs for metabolite extraction of biofluids, tissues, cell lines, or other biological samples of interest. The lab provides extraction solvents containing internal standards and sample dry down via nitrogen evaporator or vacuum centrifugation. Sample extraction and analysis method depend on the specific research question of interest, but we have standardized workflows for the following assays:
 
  • semi-targeted polar metabolite profiling (amino acids, carbohydrates, energy metabolites, nucleotides)
  • fatty acids (C14-C30)
  • untargeted lipidomics (lysophospholipids, phospholipids, ceramides, sphingomyelins, triglycerides)
  • steroids
  • polyamines
The facility relies on high resolution orbitrap mass spectrometers that enable both data-dependent, targeted (PRM, SIM), and data independent acquisition strategies.
We also leverage several platforms for data analysis, statistics, and visualization such as Skyline (MacCoss Lab Software), Compound Discoverer (Thermo Scientific), JMP, and R, depending on the specific experimental design.
Importantly, the MSSR is eager to develop and/or implement new workflows, LC and MS methods as needed to address specific biological questions if our current capabilities are not able to.