Metabolites for Metabolomics FAQ

Can you detect steoids (steroid hormones)?

Yes, detecting steroids, particularly steroid hormones, is a common practice in metabolomics and lipidomics. Our global metabolite profiling approaches, including untargeted metabolomics and widely-targeted metabolomics, allow us to detect various steroid hormones such as corticosterone, cortisol, estriol (E3), and estradiol (E2). Additionally, we offer a specialized steroid hormone-targeted assay that can identify and absolutely quantify 43 steroid hormone-related compounds.

Can you detect NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH?

Absolutely, detecting NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH is crucial in metabolic studies, as these coenzymes play vital roles in redox reactions and energy metabolism. Measuring their levels can offer valuable insights into cellular energy status, metabolic health, and oxidative stress. However, because these two groups of metabolites constantly interconvert, capturing each one simultaneously using LC-MS can be challenging. Nevertheless, our energy metabolism-targeted assay allows for the identification and absolute quantification of both NAD+ and NADPH.

Can you detect oxidized lipids?

Yes, detecting oxidized lipids is becoming increasingly important in metabolomics, particularly because of their roles in inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and cellular signaling. Oxidized lipids, including oxidized phospholipids and fatty acids, can be identified using high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques. Our global metabolite profiling approaches, encompassing untargeted and widely-targeted metabolomics, enable us to detect a variety of oxidized lipids, such as 18-HEPE, Resolvin E1, and RvD1. Additionally, we offer a specialized oxidized lipids targeted assay capable of identifying and accurately quantifying 141 oxidized lipids.

Can you detect CoAs？

CoA plays a crucial role in fatty acid metabolism and the TCA cycle, making it essential for understanding metabolic pathways. We offer an acyl-CoA-targeted assay that can identify and accurately quantify 18 different acyl-CoA compounds.

Can you detect TCA cycle related compounds?

Yes, TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle-related compounds are vital for cellular metabolism and energy production. Our energy metabolism-targeted panel can detect 65 TCA-related compounds, including oxaloacetate, malic acid, fructose, and glucose.

Can you detect central carbon metabolism related compounds?

Absolutely, central carbon metabolism encompasses a variety of pathways, including glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway, all of which produce key metabolites. These compounds can be detected using our energy metabolism-targeted panel.

Can you detect the 20 essential amino acids?

Yes, the 20 essential amino acids can be detected using our global metabolite profiling approaches, including untargeted and widely-targeted metabolomics, as well as our targeted metabolomics amino acid assay, which encompasses 94 amino acids and their derivatives.

Can you detect (d) NMP/NDP/NTP, nucleotides and purine/pyrimidine pathway metabolites?

Yes, we can detect several of them using our energy metabolism-targeted panel. For instance, dNMP, AMP, ADP, and ATP are all included in the database of this panel.

Can you detect dicarboxylic acids?

Yes, our global metabolite profiling approaches, including untargeted and widely-targeted metabolomics, can detect several dicarboxylic acids.

Can you detect neurotransmitters?

Yes, our global metabolite profiling approaches, including untargeted and widely-targeted metabolomics, along with our neurotransmitter-targeted assay, can detect a variety of neurotransmitters with high sensitivity and accuracy.

Can you detect tryptophan pathway metabolites?

Yes, we offer a specialized tryptophan-targeted assay designed to accurately detect compounds related to the tryptophan metabolism pathway.

How to quantify fructose by MS.

We can detect fructose using HILIC based on our TM metabobolomics panel

What is our experience with doing metabolomics on extracellular vesicles (e.g. exosomes)? Do we have any publications with these sample types?

Yes, We have. here are some publications, 1) Pan Y, et al., Highly Selective Purification of Plasma Extracellular Vesicles Using Titanium Dioxide Microparticles for Depicting the Metabolic Signatures of Diabetic Retinopathy. Anal Chem. 2022 Oct 18;94(41):14099-14108. 2）Huang Q., et al., Nanopore membrane chip-based isolation method for metabolomic analysis of plasma small extracellular vesicles from COVID-19 survivors. Biosens Bioelectron. 2023 Feb 15;227:115152.

Are we able to identify tri-terpenoids (sample: tropical mushrooms Calocybe indica)

we can detect the tri-terpenoids, but we need you to provide a more detailed list of substances to check whether these substances are in our database or not.

Can we detect fucosterol in Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants or Lipidomics from macroalgae species?

yes, it could be detected in our Untargeted metabolomics analysis.

Can we identify Ferruginol and Forskolin in green algae Chlamydomonas via TM or Widely-Targeted for Plants?

Yes, Our Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants could identify Ferruginol and Forskolin.

Can we look for unknown compounds with significantly different abundances in Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants

No. We are not able to do that.

We are interested in strigolactone (SL) in the root or everywhere else. It is not easy to measure SL. Can we detect SL in our phytohormone panel, and in which parts - only in roots or elsewhere as well

Our phytohormone panel include SL, but compared to other phytohormone, its content is extremely low and requires special pretreatment. SL was mainly detected in tissues such as leaves and root.

Is it possible to identify phytohormone in Widely-Targeted metabolomics analysis? What about abscisic acid?

Yes, we can detect ABA based on Widely-Targeted metabolomics panel.

From the nucleic acid list, every other compound besides cytosine monophosphate is detectable. Can you let me know why we cannot detect cytosine monophosphate?

Upon a thorough reexamination of the database, we have confirmed the detectability of cytosine monophosphate.

We are wondering about our past experience with chicken breast samples, specifically how many metabolites we have detected in untargeted metabolomics? Could you please provide a breakdown of the metabolites identified.

We have experiences in Untargeted metabolomics for chicken breast samples. An average of over 4,200 metabolites could be detected.

Which of the following can we do targeted analysis on apple fruit tissue: targeted analyses of sucrose, fructose, glucose, starch, fructose-6-P, glucose-6-P, glutamate, malate, fumarate, total soluble proteins and total polyphenols?

We are able to detect sucrose, fructose, glucose, fructose-6-P, glucose-6-P, glutamate, malate, and fumarate in apple fruit tissue. However, we are unable to detect starch (macro molecules), total soluble proteins, and total polyphenols based on Mass Spectrometry (MS) . we can detect these compounds in our new TM and untargeted with hillic

Can you show some of our past experience for anthocyanidins and flavonoids assays for citrus samples? In our database, are we able to determine which metabolites contribute to sweetness and bitterness?

We have compiled a table summarizing our project experience with flavonoids, including anthocyanidins, in citrus samples. We are able to detect some metabolites that contribute to sweetness and bitterness.

What would be the best panel to measure Vitamin A levels? Do we have any targeted capacity for this?

No, we are not able to detect Vitamin A currently.

Can we apply our phytohormone targeted assay to bacterial samples?

We have some project experience in conducting targeted assays for phytohormones using bacterial samples and the supernatant of culture media. On average, we have detected approximately 35 substances in bacterial samples and 45 substances in the supernatant. The content of most substances tends to be relatively low.

we study barley root and want to look at ABA, serotonin, and melatonin. My understanding is that serotonin and melatonin is not part of our phytohormone panel, Widely-Targeted for Plants would be more suitable.

ABA can be detected using Widely-targeted Metabolomics. But not for melatonin. Melatonin shows poor peak performance and cannot be detected in the biological amples.

Can we identify Oleoylethanolamide in Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants?

We can identify Oleoylethanolamide in Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants with a detection rate of 53%

Do we have a list with the name and metabolites analysis that can be detected with specifically HMDB and/or KEGG ids for untargeted metabolomics? Thanks!

In light of the extensive number of detectable compounds in untargeted metabolomics, we recommend that the client provides the information of samples they would like to detect and the class or a list of compounds they are specifically interested in. We can then check if those compounds can be detected in our untargeted panel. This helps us focus on what's important to the client for a more targeted analysis.

Which amino acids can be detected via Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants and what are their detection rate from our past experience?

In widely target metabolomics on some plant leaf samples, we detected an average of 240 amino acids and their derivatives.

Can we start taking on Amino Acid targeted assay?

We can conduct amino acid targeted panel on both plant and biomedcal samples.

How to only test Cholesterol in plasma/serum. Can we just do targeted cholesterol assay?

Cholesterol is detetable in plasma/serum samples in widely targeted, TM widely targeted, and untargeted metabolomics panels. We can develop a targeted assay for cholesterol detection for our clients.

Do you have any past experiences for these sample types for metabolomics: catfish for all services, liver cell and insects.

We have experience for many other fish samples, liver cells and insects.

We are interested in the following compounds. Please recommend a service that can best capture these: Propionate, Butyrate, Hexanoate, Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), Trimethylamine N, C80, N-dimethylglycine, Deoxycholic acid, Alo-deoxycholic acid, Alo-lithocholic acid, Cholate, Taurocholate, Glycolate, Coprostanol, Cholesterol, L-kynurenine, Indole-3-acetate, indole-3-propionate, Serotonin, LPS (Lipopolysaccharide).

Our TM Widely-Targeted Metabolomics with hilic would the best. We recommend TM to detecte these metabolites, except the SCFA and LPS (Lipopolysaccharide).

For the Widely Targeted Metabolomics assay, are there specific polysaccharides/starch we can detect?

we are unable to detect starch and polysaccharides (macro molecules) based on Mass Spectrometry (MS) .

How many anthocyanins can our Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants detect in blueberry fruit?

Around 40 and 80 anthocyanins could be detected in blueberry fruit samples based on Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants and anthocyanin targeted panels, respectively.

I am wondering if you can identify these compounds in our Widely Targeted Metabolomics platform: isobutyric acid, DL-2-methylbutyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, pyridoxine, ascorbic acid, lipoic acid, nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, riboflavine, thiamine, biotin, and vitamin B12.

DL-2-methylbutyric acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, lipoic acid and vitamin B12 are absent in Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants, other compounds you mentioned are detectable in Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants. we have past experience on yeast extract samples in carotenoids targeted metabolomics.

For targeted Bile Acid panel, how to calculate total bile acid concentrations?

We can determine the total concentration of all detected bile acids by summing the concentrations of each individual one. However, it's important to note that the detected bile acids may not represent the total bile acid content within the sample.

We are interested in our untargeted metabolomics service, and provided the attached spreadsheet with the primary and secondary metabolites of interest . Can you please take a look when you have a chance to see if the pipeline covers these?

Our capabilities extend beyond the detection of amino acids and their metabolites, carbohydrates and their metabolites, coenzymes and vitamins, nucleotides and their metabolites, energy-related metabolites, and lipids within our untargeted panel. We also possess the ability to detect organic acids and their derivatives, hormones and hormone-related compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, and numerous other compounds. For the metabolites as provided in the list, we are able to detect the majority of them. Our TM widely-targeted metabolomics approach is capable of detecting 71% of these metabolites. Specifically for lipids on the list, we offer more specialized products designed for lipid quantification and can cover more than 80% of the lipids as provided. Our extensive database encompasses over 4,000 lipids, with the ability to typically detect 800-1,200 lipids in biological samples.

How to identify chlorophylls, specifically chlorophyll a and b? if we cannot detect chlorophyll a and b, are there other compounds that's part of the pathway that we can detect to indicate chlorophyll acitivity? chlorophyll is a commonly asked compound and we should look into how best to answer this question instead of just saying we cannot detect.

Regrettably, due to their special structures, we cannot detect chlorophylls and other related compounds in the pathway using LC-MS/MS. Previous endeavors to establish a targeted panel for chlorophylls have proven unsuccessful, rendering them outside the scope of our focus. These compounds can, however, be identified using techniques such as HPLC or fluorometry.

Can you detect the following compounds using any of our panels? 27-hydroxycholesterol, 17beta-estradiol and Testosterone.

Yes, We can detect these compounds in Untargeted metabolomics.

We are interested in greenback cutthroat trout's eggs and sac fry for energy metabolism assay. We are very interested in the kynurenine pathway, NAD+/H and NADP+/H metabolism, and reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH, GSSG).

We recommend that the client opt for our TM widely targeted metabolomics instead of the energy targeted metabolomics. This is because most of the compounds can be detected in the TM panel, whereas only a few compounds are included in the database of the energy targeted panel.

We work with tilapia cell lines. They would be interested in analyzing compatible osmolyte concentrations in sending us cell extract for two samples (one isosmotic and one hyperosmotic) to determine the quantitity of compatible organic osmolytes in those samples (myo-inositol, sorbitol, glycerophosphocholine, taurine, trimethylamine oxid (TMAO), and the 20 free amino acids). Which service/panel would I recommend to the client to optimize their results?

For these compounds of interest, we recommend our TM Widely-Targeted Metabolomics panel to the client, as all of them can be detected using this panel.

Does the untargeted metabolomics panel cover bile acids (if yes which ones) and eicosanoids (if yes which ones)?

The untargeted panel is capable of detecting some bile acids and a few eicosanoids. However, due to the lower concentrations, the identification of eicosanoids may be not so accurate.

Are you able to quantify and detect nucleotides (specially GTP, IMP and ATP) well in regular samples?

Sure, there are 18 nucleotides including IMP and ATP in our energy metabolomics database (no GTP). Most (15-16) of them (18 nucleotides in energy targeted database) can be detected in our TM widely-targeted metabolomics or Untargeted Plus metabolomics panels.

How to analyse SCFAs in mouse fecal samples?

Sure, we have extensive experiences in SCFA targeted panel working on mouse fecal samples. We can detect SCFAs in this panel, including Acetate, Propionate, Butyrate, Isobutyrate, Valerate, Isovalerate, 2-methylbutyrate, Hexanoate, Isohexanoate, Heptanoate and Octanoate.

We are interested in a targeted panel for detecting dNTP pool and purine/pyrimidine pathway metabolites? What would be the recommended panel?

For the analysis of dNTP pool and purine/pyrimidine pathway metabolites, we recommend using our TM widely-targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics panel. In addition to the listed dNTPs and purines/pyrimidines, our TM and untargeted panel can detect an average of over 70 nucleotide metabolites and over 90 nucleotide metabolites, respectively. For further details, please refer to the "experiences on human plasma in TM and untargeted panel" table I have just sent you.

Can we identify Vitamin E and compounds in the terpenoid pathway from bacteria samples, either using our quantitative lipidomics or TM worklflow?

We cannot detect Vitamin E due to difficulties in its extraction process. The compounds within the terpenoid synthesis pathway are included in our TM database rather than the quantitative lipidomics database. We have the capability to detect some of these compounds in the TM panel using various types of bacterial samples. For detailed information, please refer to the file provided below.

We are interested in biogenic amines, DOPA, dopamine, serotonin, 5-HTP in the same sample. I was wondering 1) which service would best captures these, 2) and the detection limit of our methods.

We examined the detection data for eight biogenic amines, including the four as provided, in both our TM widely-targeted metabolomics panel and untargeted metabolomics panel. The results indicate that all of them can be reliably detected in the TM panel, with each one successfully identified in over 10 projects involving mouse samples. However, some of these compounds are not detected in the untargeted panel.

Can we analyze dicarboxylic acids using any of our panels?

Several dicarboxylic acids can be detected in both widely-targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics panels. It would be better if you could provide the specific compounds names of dicarboxylic acids for us.

How to detecte non-conventional and conjugated compounds such as fumarates; I also want to capture vitamin C (the chamically stable ones) and other vitamins (including the ones that are lipid soluable and water soluable).

Our untargeted panel can cover fumarates, vitamin C (and some other water-soluable vitamins), and a variety of amino acids.

We are working on HeLa cells and want to focus on these metabolites: TCA cycle metabolites, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, 6-phosphogluconolactone and 6-phosphogluconate. Can you detect these (espcially the last three).

Yes, our untargeted metabolomics panel can cover these compounds.

Do you have a way to detect and distinguish NAD and NADH; NADP and NADPH?

We can detect one of them. These two groups of substances are inherently unstable, with each pair within the group constantly interconverting between their forms, remaining in a dynamic state. Additionally, they share the same retention time (RT). This makes them challenging to detect and distinguish by mass spectrometry, so it is not recommended to develop targeted identification methods for these two groups of substances.

How many of these extra metabolites are likely associated with bacterial metabolites or cancer metabolites.

The additional metabolites detected in the untargeted plus panel primarily consist of highly polar compounds, such as amino acids, organic acids, nucleotides, sugars, and more. These primary metabolites are common metabolites of animals, plants and microorganisms, and they are closely related with cancer metabolism.

I have particular interest to further quantify the amount of cholic acid in fecal samples via targeted metabolomic analysis. Is this something you can create and develop a pipeline/method for? can you also add "tryptophan metabolism pathway" into the analysis?

We have both bile acid and tryptophan metabolism targeted panels which provide absolute quantification for those metabolites.

Does your Energy Metabolism Targeted Metabolomics pipeline help detect metabolics particularly glucose metabolites to see the changes and narrow down more specific metabolic pathway?

Our Energy Metabolism panel look at specific compounds in TCA, PPP, and glycolysis.

I am interested in detecting NAD+ related compounds, any recommendation?

Regarding NAD+ related compounds, we recommend the energy metabolism assay as the preferred option. However, if the client desires detection beyond NAD+ related compounds, the Untargeted Plus panel presents a suitable choice for broader metabolite analysis.

I have further compounds wanting to check to see if you can "pay attention" to following compounds using your metabolomics panel: caffeine, N-caffeoylytryptophan, chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, N-caffeoyltyrosine, harmane, cafesterol, kahweol hippuric acid and benzoic acid.

All of these compounds could be detected using our Widely-Targeted Metabolomics.

I am interested in measuring glucosinolate in brussels sprouts samples. Can you provide some of our past experiences on glucosinolate detection?

We are able to detect glucosinolates, eg cabbage samples, using Widely-Targeted Metabolomics for Plants panel.

I am interested in submitting worm samples to run untargeted metabolomics. For metabolite (peaks) that cannot be assigned (potentially unknown compounds) what information can we expect to obtain? Mass? Fragmentation information? Putative composition/molecule category? Anything else?

For compounds that we cannot annotate, we can provide Q1, RT, and peak area information if the client requests it as a post-sale requirement after the project is completed.

We are very interested in amino acids, methionine cycle, polyamines and vitamin metabolites such as riboflavin. Is untargeted metabolomics sufficient?

Untargeted metabolomics is okay for the project.

We are interested in the simultaneous detection of multiple neurotransmitters in tissue or cell samples. We are interested in analyzing a specific set of neurotransmitters listed in the attached document. Is it possible to detect these neurotransmitters, and which pipeline would prefer?

These compounds are all included in our database. Both the widely-targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics panels can cover all of them, but the results from TM panel are more accurate than those from the untargeted panel. The amino acids targeted assay can cover about half of these compounds.

Do we have expeirence detecting melatonin in mouse plasma? What is our experience with targeted detection of melatonin in mouse plasma in terms of quantification and CV?

Although melatonin is included in the database of the tryptophan-targeted panel, its detection has been consistently unstable due to its fluctuating levels and low content in samples. A custom targeted method based on LC-APCI-MS/MS would be better.

If Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids exist in our Widely Targeted Metabolomcis for Plants panel for plant leaf samples. Can you please pull the past experience for this?

Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids (MIAs) are an important group of plant secondary metabolites known for their medicinal properties, including compounds such as vinblastine, vincristine, serpentine, and alstonine according to the following publication. These four compounds are included in our database of plant WT panel.

Can we detected the following compounds using any of our panels? Pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxy pregnenolone, Progesterone, 17α-hydroxy Progesterone, Deoxy-corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, Corticosterone, Cortisol, Aldosterone, Degydroepiandrosterone, Testosterone, Estrone, Estradiol and Estriol.

These compounds can be detected in our widely-targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics panels.

How to test in human stool samples for the following metabolites: for phenolic acids like gallic, protocatechuic, syringic, p-coumaric, vanillic, cinnamic, phenylpropionic, homovanillic acid, and or hydroxytyrosols and benzaldeyhdes.

These compounds are included in our TM widely-targeted metabolomics and untargeted metabolomics panels.

We are specifically interested in nitric oxide, urea and polyamines. Are these capable of being detected?

Polyamines can be detected in the Untargeted panel. For NO and urea, Both have very small molecular weights. While NO is included in the Untargeted database and urea is found in both the TM and Untargeted databases, their detection may be unstable and less accurate.

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