Abstract: Untargeted metabolomics service is a cutting-edge analytical solution that enables comprehensive and unbiased profiling of metabolites in biological samples without prior knowledge of compound identities. By detecting a broad range of endogenous small molecules such as amino acids, lipids, organic acids, and nucleotides, this service offers an in-depth view of metabolic alterations associated with various physiological or pathological conditions.
Unlike targeted metabolomics, which focuses on a predefined list of metabolites, untargeted metabolomics is ideal for discovery-driven research. It facilitates the identification of novel biomarkers, characterization of disease-associated metabolic pathways, and generation of hypotheses for systems biology. Leveraging high-resolution LC-MS/MS platforms and powerful bioinformatics tools, untargeted metabolomics plays a pivotal role in studies related to cancer metabolism, neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders, pharmacometabolomics, and microbiome-host interactions.
MtoZ Biolabs provides a high-quality untargeted metabolomics service tailored to the needs of both academic and industrial clients. Our workflow integrates optimized sample processing, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), and high-resolution mass spectrometry using Orbitrap or QTOF platforms. Coupled with advanced multivariate statistical analysis and pathway enrichment tools, we deliver reproducible, biologically meaningful data to accelerate your research and discovery efforts.
What Is Untargeted Metabolomics?
Untargeted metabolomics is a non-targeted, exploratory analytical strategy designed to detect as many metabolites as possible within a sample. Unlike targeted approaches that quantify a specific set of known analytes, untargeted metabolomics strategies provide a holistic view of the metabolome, allowing for the identification of unexpected metabolic changes and discovery of novel biomarkers.
This approach typically employs liquid chromatography (LC) or gas chromatography (GC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), such as Orbitrap or QTOF analyzers. The resulting datasets, rich in complexity and dimensionality, are processed using advanced pipelines for peak picking, alignment, normalization, and annotation against databases such as HMDB, METLIN, and KEGG.
By offering a broad, unbiased, and sensitive platform, untargeted metabolomics is especially suited to research aiming to uncover hidden metabolic phenotypes, perturbations in disease states, and dynamic responses to treatment or environmental stress.
Untargeted vs. Targeted Metabolomics: A Strategic Comparison
Untargeted and targeted metabolomics represent two distinct yet complementary approaches to metabolic profiling, each serving different research goals and analytical needs. While both strategies typically rely on LC-MS/MS platforms, they differ significantly in scope, data complexity, and interpretative depth.
1. Research Intent
Untargeted metabolomics is discovery-driven and hypothesis-free. It aims to capture as many metabolites as possible, including both known and unknown compounds, making it ideal for biomarker discovery, pathway exploration, and metabolic phenotyping. In contrast, targeted metabolomics focuses on predefined analytes of known biological relevance, offering high precision for hypothesis testing, validation studies, or regulatory assessments.
2. Coverage and Depth
Untargeted workflows can detect thousands of metabolic features in a single run, providing broad coverage across multiple chemical classes. This comprehensive profiling includes unexpected or novel metabolites that may not be captured by targeted assays. Targeted approaches, on the other hand, are limited to tens or hundreds of selected compounds, but benefit from optimized acquisition settings that ensure high reproducibility and quantitative accuracy.
3. Quantitative Precision and Data Complexity
Targeted metabolomics enables absolute or relative quantification with excellent sensitivity and specificity, using acquisition modes such as MRM or PRM. Data are straightforward to process and interpret. Untargeted data are typically semi-quantitative and require advanced computational tools for feature deconvolution, normalization, and annotation, some detected features may remain unidentifiable due to database limitations.
4. Use Cases and Applications
Untargeted metabolomics is well-suited for exploratory studies in systems biology, disease mechanism research, and hypothesis generation. Targeted metabolomics is better suited for validating findings, conducting time-course or dose-response studies, and supporting clinical or translational workflows.
In practice, these strategies are often used in tandem. Untargeted metabolomics strategies may identify candidate metabolites of interest, which can then be quantified and validated through targeted assays. MtoZ Biolabs offers both untargeted and targeted analysis services, allowing researchers to design integrated metabolomics workflows tailored to their study objectives.
Applications of Untargeted Metabolomics Service
The exceptional versatility and analytical depth of the untargeted metabolomics service empower researchers to advance impactful studies across a broad range of scientific disciplines:
1. Clinical and Translational Research
Facilitates the discovery of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers for complex diseases; enables metabolic subtyping and evaluation of treatment efficacy.
2. Oncology and Disease Phenotyping
Elucidates cancer-associated metabolic reprogramming, identifies molecular markers of disease progression, and uncovers metabolic vulnerabilities for therapeutic targeting.
3. Microbiome and Host-Microbe Interactions
Dissects the metabolic interplay between hosts and their resident microbiota, enhancing understanding of immunity, infection, and symbiosis.
4. Drug Development and Pharmacometabolomics
Informs studies on drug mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), and safety assessment, supporting rational drug design and personalized medicine.
5. Nutrition, Food Science, and Agriculture
Supports food authentication, monitors dietary effects on metabolic health, and enables crop optimization through metabolic engineering.
6. Environmental Science and Toxicology
Assesses the metabolic impact of environmental pollutants, toxins, and stressors, contributing to risk assessment and ecological research.
This comprehensive range of applications underscores the unique value of untargeted metabolomics strategies in driving scientific innovation and discovery across the life sciences.
Workflow of Untargeted Metabolomics Service
MtoZ Biolabs has established a robust, adaptable workflow to ensure data reproducibility and comprehensive metabolome coverage:
1. Sample Preparation
Depending on the matrix (e.g., plasma, tissue, urine, plant extract), customized quenching and extraction methods are employed to preserve metabolite integrity. All procedures are conducted under cold-chain conditions to minimize enzymatic degradation.
2. Chromatographic Separation
UPLC with both RP and HILIC columns is employed to resolve metabolites differing in polarity and hydrophobicity, maximizing analytical coverage.
3. Mass Spectrometry Acquisition
Metabolites are analyzed using full-scan MS1 and MS/MS acquisition via DDA or DIA workflows. This ensures deep coverage and reproducibility while capturing structural fragmentation data to aid identification.
4. Data Processing and Annotation
Raw spectral data are subjected to noise reduction, peak alignment, deconvolution, and normalization. Annotation relies on spectral libraries such as HMDB, METLIN, MassBank, and KEGG, utilizing exact mass, isotope pattern, and MS/MS fragmentation spectra.
5. Statistical and Biological Interpretation
Multivariate statistical analyses (e.g., PCA, PLS-DA) are performed to reveal group-specific features. Annotated metabolites are mapped to biochemical pathways, aiding in functional interpretation.
6. Unannotated Feature Retention
Unknown but statistically significant features are retained for potential future elucidation, offering a foundation for follow-up targeted studies or structural characterization.
What Could Be Included in the MtoZ Biolabs' Untargeted Metabolomics Service Report?
Clients receive a comprehensive, publication-ready report, meticulously formatted for transparency and immediate usability in peer-reviewed publications or for integration with downstream omics workflows. Key deliverables include:
1. Comprehensive Experimental Details
A detailed description of the experimental design, including sample information (type, preparation method, storage conditions), number of biological/technical replicates, and any treatment or grouping strategy.
2. Materials, Instruments, and Methods
A complete list of critical reagents, solvents, chromatographic columns, and instrument platforms (e.g., UPLC-QTOF or Orbitrap systems), along with key method parameters such as ionization mode, gradient program, and scan settings for LC-MS or GC-MS acquisition.
3. Total Ion Chromatogram and Quality Control Assessment
Representative total ion chromatograms (TICs), internal standard performance, retention time reproducibility, and quality control (QC) metrics such as coefficient of variation (CV) for pooled QC samples, demonstrating system stability and data reliability.
4. Data Analysis, Preprocessing, and Estimation
Description of the data analysis pipeline, including peak detection, alignment, normalization, and missing value imputation. Summary of quantitative outputs for both annotated and unannotated metabolic features.
5. Bioinformatics Analysis
Comprehensive multivariate and pathway-level analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), volcano plots, hierarchical clustering heatmaps, pathway enrichment analysis (e.g., KEGG), and optional metabolite set enrichment analysis (MSEA).
6. Raw Data Files
Access to all raw instrument files (e.g., .raw, .d) and processed data matrices (e.g., .csv format), including sample metadata tables and annotation lists. These files are suitable for secondary analysis or integration with transcriptomics/proteomics datasets.
This robust deliverable package equips clients with all essential data and analyses needed to advance their research and publish with confidence.
Why Choose MtoZ Biolabs' Untargeted Metabolomics Service?
1. Advanced Analytics Platform
Utilizes industry-leading instrumentation, including Thermo Q Exactive, AB Q-TOF 5600, and state-of-the-art GC-MS systems, for high-resolution, high-throughput, and reliable metabolic profiling across all sample types.
2. Transparent Pricing
Clear, all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees, enabling straightforward planning and budgeting.
3. High Data Quality
Every dataset is produced under stringent quality control with internal standards, pooled QCs, and process blanks. Our advanced bioinformatics platform ensures comprehensive data integration and delivery of publication-ready reports.
4. Flexible Project Design
Collaborative design with tailored experimental protocols addresses unique research goals and sample types, with expert support at every stage.
5. Comprehensive Deliverables
Publication-ready reports including figures, tables, pathway insights, and bioinformatics outputs, supporting immediate use in manuscripts, grants, or further research.
6. End-to-End Scientific Support
From planning through data interpretation, our team provides full-spectrum guidance to ensure scientific rigor and maximize project success.
By combining these strengths, MtoZ Biolabs' untargeted metabolomics service empowers researchers to achieve robust, insightful, and publication-ready results across the entire spectrum of metabolic science.
Unlock Your Metabolomics Research Potential with MtoZ Biolabs
MtoZ Biolabs, an integrated chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) services provider, provides advanced proteomics, metabolomics, and biopharmaceutical analysis services to researchers in biochemistry, biotechnology, and biopharmaceutical fields. Our ultimate aim is to provide more rapid, high-throughput, and cost-effective analysis, with exceptional data quality and minimal sample consumption.
Building on this foundation, our untargeted metabolomics service enables comprehensive, unbiased metabolic profiling across diverse sample types and biological questions. By combining cutting-edge LC-MS/GC-MS instrumentation, rigorous QA/QC standards, and expert bioinformatics, we help researchers go beyond targeted panels, unlocking novel biomarkers, capturing systemic metabolic shifts, and supporting translational insight across clinical, agricultural, and environmental research.
Ready to accelerate your next discovery? To learn how MtoZ Biolabs' untargeted metabolomics service can support your breakthrough, please contact our scientific support team or visit our website to request a complimentary consultation.
Name: Terry
Company: MtoZ Biolabs
Email: marketing@mtoz-biolabs.com
Phone: +1-857-362-9535
Address: 155 Federal Street, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02110, USA
Country: United States
Website: https://www.mtoz-biolabs.com/
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