Metabolomics refers to the large-scale study of small molecules, commonly known as metabolites, within cells, biofluids, tissues, or organisms. These small molecules and their interactions within a biological system collectively constitute the "metabolome."
Metabolomics has the potential to provide valuable information and find applications in various contexts. Although still a relatively new field, metabolomics is starting to emerge with many potential uses, both currently and in the future. This article discusses some of these potential applications of metabolomics.
Metabolomics in Clinical Trials
Pharmaceutical companies are particularly interested in metabolomics because it has the potential to significantly reduce the costs of clinical trials. It allows for the testing of drug candidates' toxicity through their metabolic effects before making them available to the general public.
Metabolomics in Functional Genomics
Metabolomics can greatly benefit the study of phenotypes resulting from specific genetic modifications in functional genomics. By understanding the behavior of the metabolome, one can predict the phenotypes that would arise from adding or removing genes from the genome. This knowledge can be applied in various real-world contexts, such as examining phenotypic changes in genetically modified plant material intended for human consumption. By comparing metabolic changes caused by known gene alterations, metabolomics can also help predict the function of unknown genes.
Metabolomics in Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics combines principles of human dietary science with knowledge from genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. The metabolome of each body fluid is influenced by various external and internal factors, including nutrients, other meal ingredients, medications, age, gender, body composition, genetic susceptibilities, and existing medical conditions. Metabolomics can be used in nutrigenomics to identify an individual's metabolic fingerprint, illustrating how endogenous and exogenous stimuli affect their metabolism.
Other Potential Uses
Metabolomics holds promise in enhancing our understanding, diagnosis, and management of numerous medical conditions, including cancer and endocrine disorders. It can help identify pathophysiological processes and targeted disease management techniques. For example, metabolomics indicators found in tissue samples or biopsies can be used to classify and stage the development of malignancies, thereby guiding the selection of the most appropriate treatment.
The study of metabolomics can also shed light on how organisms interact with their environment. By examining these environmental interactions and analyzing an organism's function and health at the molecular level, we can gain insights into how the environment affects its well-being. This data can be collected on a larger scale for studies in areas such as ecology.
CONCLUSION
Some companies offering metabolomics services claim to provide comprehensive end-to-end capabilities, including experimental planning, data processing, and statistical analysis. These developments suggest that the market for metabolomics services is expected to experience rapid growth in the coming years.