Metabolomics Services
Metabolomics—the large-scale study of small molecules known as metabolites—provides a real-time snapshot of metabolic processes in biological systems. It’s essential for microbiome research, illuminating how microbial communities function and interact with the human host to promote health or cause disease.
At Cmbio, we deliver precision-targeted metabolomics solutions designed to accelerate microbiome and microbial-host interaction research. Using advanced LC-MS/MS platforms, we generate high-resolution metabolic profiling across a wide range of sample types. From panel selection to data interpretation, our expert team provides end-to-end support, making sure you get clear, actionable insights.
Metabolomics
Metabolomics—the large-scale study of small molecules known as metabolites—provides a real-time snapshot of metabolic processes in biological systems. It’s essential for microbiome research, illuminating how microbial communities function and interact with the human host to promote health or cause disease.
Our Metabolomics Capabilities
At Cmbio, our dedicated metabolomics team offers a comprehensive range of services to meet your needs, accommodating both novices and experienced researchers. Collaborate directly with our specialized scientists for guidance on analytical chemistry, method selection, technical analysis details, and advanced data processing and interpretation.
Tailored to your specific requirements, our metabolomics platforms offer both untargeted and targeted metabolomics analyses.
Untargeted Metabolomics Panels
Untargeted metabolomics provides global detection of broad compound classes produced by the host and the microbiome that play crucial roles in microbial metabolism and host-microbe interactions. While the specific composition may vary depending on the sample type and experimental conditions, here are some of the relevant compound classes commonly detected.
Microbial metabolites refer to the small molecules produced by microorganisms and have various roles and significance. They provide a detailed snapshot of the metabolic status of microbial communities and offer insights into the biochemical pathways and processes of the microorganisms to enable an understanding of how microbes interact with their environment, utilize resources, respond to external stimuli and potential implications for driving health and disease.
Our untargeted methods include analysis of common microbial metabolites such as TMAO, bile acids, tryptophan, tryptophan-derived metabolites, acylcarnitines, amino acids, citric acid cycle compounds, phosphatidylcholine and carnitine.
Microbial Metabolites
Explore the metabolic landscape of microorganisms through the analysis of TMAO, bile acids, tryptophan, acylcarnitines, and more.
Amino Acids and Derivatives:
Gain insights into microbial protein synthesis, nitrogen utilization, and nutrient availability.
Tryphophan Metabolites:
Uncover the impact of indole, tryptamine, serotonin derivatives, and kynurenine pathway metabolites on host immune responses, gut-brain communication, inflammation, and neurodegeneration.
Organic Acids and Short-Chain Fatty Acids
Delve into the role of metabolites like acetate, propionate, and butyrate in gut health, immune modulation, and energy metabolism.
Lipids and Lipid Derivatives
Explore the contribution of lipids to microbial membrane composition, lipid metabolism, and interactions with host lipid metabolism.
Nucleotides and Nucleosides
Gain insights into microbial nucleotide metabolism and potential interactions with host nucleotide pools.
Secondary Metabolites
Identify antibiotics, toxins, and signaling molecules to understand microbial community dynamics and functional roles in the microbiome ecosystem.
Targeted Metabolomics Panels
To complement our untargeted analyses, we offer specialized targeted metabolomics panels that focus on specific groups of metabolites relevant to your research. These panels provide precise quantification of compounds within key metabolic pathways, enabling deeper insights into biological functions and disease mechanisms.
Our targeted panels include:
Short-Chain Fatty Acid Panel
Quantifies essential fatty acids like acetate, butyrate, and propionate, crucial for gut health and metabolic regulation.
- Acetic acid aka acetate (HMDB0000042)
- Butanoic acid aka butyrate (HMDB0000039)
- Heptanoic acid (HMDB0000666)
- Hexanoic acid aka caproic acid (HMDB0000535)
- Pentanoic acid aka valerate, valeric acid (HMDB0000892)
- 2-methylpropanoic acid aka isobutyrate, isobutyric acid (HMDB0001873)
- 3-Methylbutanoic acid aka isovalerate, isovaleric acid (HMDB0000718)
- Formic acid aka formate (HMDB0000142)
- Propanoic acid aka propionate (HMDB0000237)
- 4-Methylpentanoic acid aka isocaproic acid (HMDB0000689)
- 2-Methylbutyric acid (HMDB0033742) [NEW]
- 2-Methyl pentanoic acid aka 2-Methylvaleric acid (HMDB0031580) [NEW]
- 3-Methyl pentanoic acid aka 3-Methylvaleric acid (HMDB0033774) [NEW]
Bile Acid Panel
Measures a comprehensive range of bile acids involved in lipid digestion and signaling pathways affecting metabolism and immunity.
- β-Muricholic acid (HMDB0000865)
- Chenodeoxycholic acid (HMDB0000518)
- Cholic acid aka cholate (HMDB0000619)
- Deoxycholic acid aka deoxycholate (HMDB0000626)
- Glycocholic acid (HMDB0000138)
- Glycolithocholic acid (HMDB0000698)
- Glycoursodeoxycholic acid (HMDB0000708)
- Glycodeoxycholic acid (HMDB0000631)
- Hyocholic acid (HMDB0000760)
- Hyodeoxycholic acid (HMDB0000733)
- Lithocholic acid aka lithocholate (HMDB0000761)
- α-Muricholic acid (HMDB0000506)
- Tauro-α-Muricholic acid (HMDB0258742)
- Tauro-β-Muricholic acid (HMDB0000932)
- Taurochenodeoxycholic acid (HMDB0000951)
- Taurocholic acid (HMDB0000036)
- Taurodeoxycholic acid aka taurodeoxycholate (HMDB0000896)
- Taurohyodeoxycholic acid
- Taurolithocholic acid (HMDB0000722)
- Taurolithocholic acid sulfate (HMDB0002580)
- Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (HMDB0000874)
- Ursodeoxycholic acid (HMDB0000946)
- ω-Muricholic acid (HMDB0000364)
- Isolithocholic acid (HMDB0000717)
- 12-Ketolithocholic acid (HMDB0000328)
Total Fatty Acid Panel
Assesses various saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, including essential fatty acids important for cellular functions.
- ⍺-Linolenic acid (HMDB0001388)
- 11,14-Eicosadienoic acid (HMDB0244372)
- 13,16-Docosadienoic acid (HMDB0244521)
- Arachidic acid (HMDB0002212)
- Arachidonic acid (HMDB0001043)
- cis-10-Heptadecenoic acid (HMDB0060038)
- cis-10-Pentadecenoic acid (HMDB0304816)
- cis-11-Eicosenoic acid (HMDB0002231)
- Decanoic acid aka caprate, capric acid (HMDB0000511)
- Dihomo-⍺-linolenic acid (HMDB0060039)
- Dihomo-γ-linoleic acid (HMDB0002925)
- Docosahexaenoic acid (HMDB0002183)
- Docosanoic acid (HMDB0000944)
- Docosapentaenoic acid (HMDB0006528)
- Dodecanoic acid (HMDB0000638)
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (HMDB0001999)
- Elaidic acid (HMDB0000573)
- Erucic acid (HMDB0002068)
- Heneicosanoic acid (HMDB0002345)
- Heptadecanoic acid (HMDB0002259)
- Linoleic acid (HMDB0000673)
- Linolelaidic acid (HMDB0006270)
- Myristic acid (HMDB0000806)
- Myristoleic acid (HMDB0002000)
- Nervonic acid (HMDB0002368)
- Octadecanoic acid (HMDB0000827)
- Oleic acid (HMDB0000207)
- Palmitic acid (HMDB0000220)
- Palmitoleic acid (HMDB0003229)
- Pentadecanoic acid (HMDB0000826)
- Tetracosanoic acid (HMDB0002003)
- Tricosanoic acid (HMDB0001160)
- Tridecanoic acid (HMDB0000910)
- Undecanoic acid (HMDB0000947)
- γ-Linolenic acid (HMDB0003073)
Tryptophan Panel
Focuses on tryptophan metabolites to shed light on pathways related to neurotransmission, immune response, and gut microbiota interactions.
- 2,3-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid (HMDB0000232)
- 2-Picolinic acid (HMDB0002243)
- 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (HMDB0002199)
- 3-Methylindole (HMDB0000466)
- Anthranilic acid (HMDB0001123)
- Indole (HMDB0000738)
- Indole-3-acetic acid (HMDB0000197)*
- Indole-3-acrylic acid (HMDB0000734)
- Indole-3-butyric acid (HMDB0002096)
- Indole-3-propionic acid (HMDB0002302)
- Indole-3-pyruvic acid (HMDB0060484)*
- Tryptamine (HMDB0000303)
- 2-Oxoglutaric acid (HMDB0000208)
- 5-Aminovaleric acid (HMDB0003355)
- Alanine (HMDB0000161)
- Asparagine (HMDB0000168)
- Aspartic acid (HMDB0000191)
- cis-Aconitic acid (HMDB0000072)
- Citric acid (HMDB0000094)
- Cystine (HMDB0000192)
- Fumaric acid aka fumarate (HMDB0000134)
- Glutamic acid aka glutamate (HMDB0000148)
- Glutamine (HMDB0000641)
- Glycine (HMDB0000123)
- Histidine (HMDB0000177)
- Isocitric acid (HMDB0000193)
- Isoleucine (HMDB0000172)
- Lactic acid aka lactate (HMDB0000190)
- Leucine (HMDB0000687)
- Lysine (HMDB0000182)
- Malic acid (HMDB0000156)
- Methionine (HMDB0000696)
- Ornithine (HMDB0000214)
- Phenylalanine (HMDB0000159)
- Phosphoenolpyruvic acid (HMDB0000263)
- Proline (HMDB0000162)
- Serine (HMDB0000187)
- Succinic acid aka succinate (HMDB0000254)
- Threonine (HMDB0000167)
- Tryptophan (HMDB0000929)
- Tyrosine (HMDB0000158)
- Valine (HMDB0000883)
NOTE: Indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-pyruvic acid co-elute; their peaks can therefore not be resolved and they cannot be quantified individually. These compounds are marked with a ‘*’ in compounds detected/quantified section.
Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) Panel
Analyzes HMOs vital for infant nutrition and gut microbiota development; customizable to fit your study needs.
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Most HMOs are measured as prebiotics in formula or as compounds in breastmilk. Contact us to discuss the range of HMOs that best fit your study goals.
Amino Acid and TCA Cycle Panel
Measures amino acids and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates to elucidate energy metabolism and anabolic processes.
- 2-Oxoglutaric acid (HMDB0000208)
- 5-Aminovaleric acid (HMDB0003355)
- Alanine (HMDB0000161)
- Asparagine (HMDB0000168)
- Aspartic acid (HMDB0000191)
- cis-Aconitic acid (HMDB0000072)
- Citric acid (HMDB0000094)
- Cystine (HMDB0000192)
- Fumaric acid aka fumarate (HMDB0000134)
- Glutamic acid aka glutamate (HMDB0000148)
- Glutamine (HMDB0000641)
- Glycine (HMDB0000123)
- Histidine (HMDB0000177)
- Isocitric acid (HMDB0000193)
- Isoleucine (HMDB0000172)
- Lactic acid aka lactate (HMDB0000190)
- Leucine (HMDB0000687)
- Lysine (HMDB0000182)
- Malic acid (HMDB0000156)
- Methionine (HMDB0000696)
- Ornithine (HMDB0000214)
- Phenylalanine (HMDB0000159)
- Phosphoenolpyruvic acid (HMDB0000263)
- Proline (HMDB0000162)
- Serine (HMDB0000187)
- Succinic acid aka succinate (HMDB0000254)
- Threonine (HMDB0000167)
- Tryptophan (HMDB0000929)
- Tyrosine (HMDB0000158)
- Valine (HMDB0000883
Customised Metabolomics Solutions
At Cmbio, we understand that every research question is unique. That’s why we offer fully customised metabolomics solutions to support your specific study design, from early-stage concept to advanced data interpretation.
Whether you're exploring microbial-host interaction studies, investigating disease mechanisms, or seeking precision in microbiome metabolite analysis, our LC-MS/MS metabolomics platforms provide flexible, high-resolution metabolic profiling across diverse sample types.
You’ll work closely with our expert team for tailored method development, selection of the most relevant metabolite panels, and in-depth metabolomics data interpretation. We also offer research metabolomics consulting to help refine your hypotheses, optimise your experimental workflow, and generate robust, publication-ready results.
Contact Our Metabolomics Team to design a solution aligned with your research goals
Metabolomics FAQs
What is the difference between targeted and untargeted metabolomics?
Targeted metabolomics focuses on quantifying specific known metabolites, while untargeted metabolomics aims to profile a broad range of metabolites without prior selection, allowing for discovery-driven insights, including unknown lipid molecules.
Can you help choose the right metabolomics panel for my study?
Yes, our team collaborates closely with you to recommend the most suitable panel and approach based on your study objectives and sample types.
Do you provide data analysis and interpretation support?
Absolutely. We offer comprehensive support for metabolomics data analysis and interpretation, from raw data processing to biological insights.
Is your metabolomics platform suitable for clinical trials?
Yes, our LC-MS/MS metabolomics platforms are optimised for reproducibility and throughput, supporting both observational and interventional clinical research.
Do you offer support for grant proposals or study design?
We do. Our research metabolomics consulting services include study design guidance and input on grant applications to strengthen methodological sections.
Which metabolomics panel should I choose for gut microbiome research?
For gut microbiome research, we typically recommend targeted panels covering microbial-host co-metabolites such as saturated fatty acids and short-chain fatty acids, with optional analysis of fat soluble vitamins. Our platforms use advanced mass spectrometry to ensure high-resolution metabolic profiling across a wide range of biological matrices.