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Metabolomics Core

Director:

K. Sreekumaran Nair, M.D. (Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology)

Description:

The Mayo CTSA Translational Technology Metabolomics Core is an analytical facility specializing in mass spectrometry techniques. Its main purpose is to support NIH-funded investigators whose studies involve the use of stable isotope-labeled compounds as tracers. Areas of research that are supported include the study of protein, glucose and fat metabolism, utilizing various tracers such as [ring-13C6]phenylalanine, [6,6-2H2]glucose and [U-13C]palmitate, respectively, and the study of energy expenditure via the doubly labeled water technique. A range of mass spectrometers is available to cover the different types of measurements required in these studies.

Specifically, the aims of the Metabolomics Core are:

  1. To develop stable isotope methodologies and make them available to clinical investigators in various disciplines.
  2. To provide advice and expertise in the application of stable isotope-labeled tracer techniques to investigators.
  3. To offer measurement of the study of metabolic profiles in metabolomic studies both in terms of metabolite identification and quantification.
  4. To offer measurement of peptide mixtures from tryptic digests by Time-Of-Flight (TOF) mass spectrometry for identification of proteins in proteomic studies.

Services/Equipment:

The Metabolomics Core has four laboratories on the fifth floor of the Alfred building at Saint Marys Hospital, comprised of one work-up and three instrument rooms. The unit has eight personnel and ten mass spectrometers. The instruments include:

  • Two quadrupole Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) systems
  • Two triple quadrupole systems (one with Liquid Chromatography (LC) inlet and the other with both LC & GC inlets)
  • Four Isotope Ratio mass spectrometers with various inlets, such as breath carrousel, dual inlet, on-line GC/Combustion, H/Device and elemental analyzer (TC/EA)
  • One QQ-TOF tandem MS (LC-nanospray inlet)
  • One linear Ion Trap MS (LC-nanospray inlet)

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