The detailed investigation of metabolites in human samples has been termed metabolomics and carries a great potential for the discovery of unknown biomarkers.1 One of the most exciting scientific developments in the past decade has been the understanding that the metabolically active gut microbiota profoundly impacts human physiology. This metabolic interspecies communication represents a tremendous opportunity for biomarker discovery as only limited information on this co-metabolism has been elucidated on a molecular level. We have developed new state-of-the-art Chemical Biology techniques for an enhanced metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS / Fig. 1).2,3 A unique chemoselective probe immobilized to magnetic beads was prepared for analysis of human fecal samples. Due to facile extraction of metabolites the mass spectrometric sensitivity was increased by a factor of 2000.2 We also utilized selective enzymatic treatment of metabolites in human samples to identify converted metabolites and elucidate their chemical formula.3 We chemically synthesized each identified molecule to unequivocally validate the molecular structure.3,4 Using this specific workflow, we have successfully identified three times as many sulfated metabolites than reported in Metabolomics databases.3,5 Our unique methodologies at the interface of Chemistry and Biology have been developed to overcome limitations in metabolomics research and metabolite structure validation. We are applying these methods for biomarker discovery in samples collected from pancreatic cancer patients.

Investigation of host-microbiota co-metabolism as a new strategy for biomarker discovery: New chemical biology tools for metabolomics analysis

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.