Navigating common pitfalls in metabolite identification and metabolomics bioinformatics.
Metabolomics 20:103 (2024)
BACKGROUND: Metabolomics, the systematic analysis of small molecules in a given biological system, emerged as a powerful tool for different research questions. Newer, better, and faster methods have increased the coverage of metabolites that can be detected and identified in a shorter amount of time, generating highly dense datasets. While technology for metabolomics is still advancing, another rapidly growing field is metabolomics data analysis including metabolite identification. Within the next years, there will be a high demand for bioinformaticians and data scientists capable of analyzing metabolomics data as well as chemists capable of using in-silico tools for metabolite identification. However, metabolomics is often not included in bioinformatics curricula, nor does analytical chemistry address the challenges associated with advanced in-silico tools. AIM OF REVIEW: In this educational review, we briefly summarize some key concepts and pitfalls we have encountered in a collaboration between a bioinformatician (originally not trained for metabolomics) and an analytical chemist. We identified that many misunderstandings arise from differences in knowledge about metabolite annotation and identification, and the proper use of bioinformatics approaches for these tasks. We hope that this article helps other bioinformaticians (as well as other scientists) entering the field of metabolomics bioinformatics, especially for metabolite identification, to quickly learn the necessary concepts for a successful collaboration with analytical chemists. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: We summarize important concepts related to LC-MS/MS based non-targeted metabolomics and compare them with other data types bioinformaticians are potentially familiar with. Drawing these parallels will help foster the learning of key aspects of metabolomics.
Impact Factor
Scopus SNIP
Web of Science
Times Cited
Scopus
Cited By
Altmetric
Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Review
Thesis type
Editors
Keywords
Bioinformatics ; Data Analysis ; Lc-ms/ms ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolite Identification ; Metabolite Databases ; Metabolomics; Liquid Chromatography/mass Spectrometry; Dark-matter; Annotation
Keywords plus
Language
english
Publication Year
2024
Prepublished in Year
0
HGF-reported in Year
2024
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1573-3882
e-ISSN
1573-3890
ISBN
Book Volume Title
Conference Title
Conference Date
Conference Location
Proceedings Title
Quellenangaben
Volume: 20,
Issue: 5,
Pages: ,
Article Number: 103
Supplement: ,
Series
Publisher
Springer
Publishing Place
New York, NY
Day of Oral Examination
0000-00-00
Advisor
Referee
Examiner
Topic
University
University place
Faculty
Publication date
0000-00-00
Application date
0000-00-00
Patent owner
Further owners
Application country
Patent priority
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s)
30505 - New Technologies for Biomedical Discoveries
Research field(s)
Enabling and Novel Technologies
PSP Element(s)
A-630710-001
Grants
Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen - Deutsches Forschungszentrum fr Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH) (4209)
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2024-10-15