Example Applications
Life Sciences and Clinical Research
Proteomics Workflows
Life Sciences & Clinical Research Panels - Biomolecules - Steroids
Life Sciences and Clinical Research
Biopharma and Intact Proteins
Life Sciences and Clinical Research
Amino Acids
Life Sciences and Clinical Research
Metabolomics Workflows
Environmental Panels
Pestisides
Life Sciences & Clinical Research
Wellness Panels
Experimental Design &
Fit-for-Purpose
Environmental Panels
pfas
For more information, please see the sections below for descriptions of the different applications.
General Information on OMICS Related Applications
"Omics" fields are often integrated to provide a more holistic understanding of biological systems. For example, combining genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics can offer a comprehensive view of gene expression, protein synthesis, metabolic pathways, and their interactions in health and disease.
General OMICS
-
Definition: "Omics" is a broad term encompassing various fields of biology that study the entirety of a specific type of biological molecule within an organism. These fields aim to comprehensively characterize and quantify these molecules and understand their roles in the structure, function, and dynamics of an organism.
-
What is OMICS used for: Omics approaches utilize high-throughput technologies and computational analyses to generate and interpret large datasets, providing a holistic view of biological systems.
-
What OMICS solves: Omics fields contribute to our understanding of fundamental biological processes, disease mechanisms, and responses to environmental factors. They have applications in personalized medicine, drug discovery, diagnostics, and environmental monitoring.
-
Example experiments:
-
Genomics: Whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic variations associated with disease susceptibility.
-
Transcriptomics: RNA sequencing to compare gene expression profiles between healthy and diseased tissues.
-
Proteomics: Mass spectrometry to identify protein modifications in response to drug treatment.
-
Metabolomics: NMR spectroscopy to analyze metabolic changes associated with a specific diet
-
-
Definition: Proteomics is the large-scale study of all proteins in a biological system, including their expression levels, modifications, interactions, and functions.
-
What proteomics is used for: Proteomics employs techniques like mass spectrometry, chromatography, and protein arrays to identify and quantify proteins, analyze protein-protein interactions, and study post-translational modifications.
-
What proteomics solves: Proteomics helps us understand protein functions in health and disease, identify disease biomarkers, discover drug targets, and develop personalized therapies.
-
Example experiments:
-
Quantitative proteomics: Comparing protein expression levels in cancer cells versus normal cells to identify potential drug targets.
-
Phosphoproteomics: Studying changes in protein phosphorylation in response to cellular signaling pathways.
-
Interactomics: Mapping protein-protein interactions to understand cellular processes and signaling networks.
-
-
Definition: Metabolomics is the comprehensive analysis of all small molecules (metabolites) in a biological system, such as cells, tissues, or organisms. These metabolites are involved in various metabolic pathways and provide insights into the functional state of the system.
-
What is metabolomics used for: Metabolomics utilizes techniques like mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to identify and quantify metabolites, map metabolic pathways, and study metabolic changes in response to various stimuli.
-
What proteomics solves: Metabolomics helps us understand metabolic processes, identify disease biomarkers, assess the effects of drugs or environmental factors on metabolism, and develop personalized nutrition strategies.
-
Example experiments:
-
Metabolic profiling: Comparing metabolite levels in individuals with a specific disease versus healthy controls.
-
Fluxomics: Tracing the flow of metabolites through metabolic pathways to understand metabolic regulation.
-
Metabolomics in personalized nutrition: Analyzing individual metabolic responses to different diets.
-
Lipidomics
-
Definition: Lipidomics is the comprehensive study of all lipids in a biological system, including their structure, function, interactions, and roles in various cellular processes.
-
What is lipidomics used for: Lipidomics employs techniques like mass spectrometry and chromatography to identify and quantify lipids, analyze lipid modifications, and study lipid-protein interactions.
-
What lipidomics solves: Lipidomics helps us understand the roles of lipids in cell signaling, membrane structure, energy storage, and disease development, leading to the identification of disease biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.
-
Example experiments:
-
Lipid profiling: Analyzing changes in lipid composition in response to drug treatment or environmental stress.
-
Lipidomics in cardiovascular disease: Studying the role of lipids in atherosclerosis and heart disease.
-
Lipidomics in cancer: Investigating the involvement of lipids in tumor growth and metastasis.
-
General Information on Small Biomolecule Related Applications
Under Construction & Updates - February 2025
We are adding new information on specific topics - weekly . Thank you for your interest!
Steroids and Hormones (bly LC MS)
-
Definition: Steroids are a class of organic molecules with a characteristic four-ring structure. Many steroids function as hormones, which are chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to target tissues and regulate various physiological processes.
-
What they do: Steroid hormones bind to specific receptors in target cells, triggering a cascade of events that alter gene expression and protein synthesis, ultimately affecting cell function and organismal physiology.
-
What they solve: Understanding steroid hormone signaling is crucial for diagnosing and treating endocrine disorders, reproductive issues, and certain cancers. LC-MS plays a vital role in this understanding due to its high sensitivity and specificity. Steroids also have therapeutic applications as anti-inflammatory agents and anabolic agents (though the latter can have serious side effects)
Example experiments (LC-MS based):
-
Quantifying steroid hormones in biological matrices: LC-MS/MS is the gold standard for measuring steroid hormone levels (e.g., cortisol, testosterone, estradiol) in serum, plasma, urine, or tissue samples. It allows for simultaneous measurement of multiple steroids with high accuracy and minimal sample preparation.
-
Identifying steroid metabolites: LC-MS can be used to profile steroid metabolites, providing insights into steroid metabolism and potential biomarkers for disease.
-
Analyzing steroid conjugates: Steroid hormones are often conjugated (e.g., glucuronidated or sulfated) for excretion. LC-MS allows for the analysis of these conjugates, which can be important for understanding hormone regulation and clearance.
Insulin (by LC MS)
-
Definition: Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas. It plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism, regulating blood sugar levels. While immunoassays are commonly used to measure insulin, LC-MS offers advantages in certain situations.
-
What it does: Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream into cells, particularly in muscle, liver, and fat tissues. It also promotes glucose storage as glycogen in the liver and muscle and inhibits glucose production.
-
What it solves: Insulin is essential for managing diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). LC-MS can be used in insulin research and for specialized clinical applications.
Example experiments (LC-MS based):
-
Insulin isoform analysis: LC-MS can differentiate between different insulin isoforms or analogs, which can be important in research settings or for monitoring specific insulin therapies.
-
Quantitative measurement of insulin in complex matrices: LC-MS/MS can be used to measure insulin levels in the presence of interfering substances, such as in research studies involving complex biological samples.
-
Insulin resistance studies: LC-MS can be used in combination with other techniques (e.g., stable isotope tracers) to study insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in research settings. While not a routine clinical test for insulin, LC-MS provides a highly specific and sensitive approach when needed.