Learn what sets us apart from traditional platforms
Although CE-MS has proven to be the best technology for profiling hydrophilic and charged metabolites, CE-MS is not as useful for the metabolic profiling of more hydrophobic and lipid metabolites such as longer chain fatty acids, neutral steroids, and lipids. The profiling of these hydrophobic compounds requires the use of reverse phase HPLC – MS methods and different extraction protocols.
At HMT we provide multiple metabolite extractions for our dual CE and LC platform to optimize for the detection of a wide range of metabolites in multiple sample types. This allows HMT to produce complex and comprehensive data files for biomarker discovery and patient stratification as part of our DEEP DIVE Platform.
Dual Scan – Untargeted and Unbiased
Our Dual Scan is the combination of choosing one of our CE-MS options (Basic Scan, Advanced Scan, Deep Dive) with an untargeted LC-MS method to capture a wide range of lipids (see Figure). Samples are partitioned into two different extractions. The LC-MS extraction excludes larger triglycerides, in favor of smaller lipids – steroids, long chain fatty acids, bile acids, acyl carnitines, and much more. This untargeted approach is great for novel research, biomarker discovery, clinical analysis and works across multiple sample types.
What is the difference between HMT’s Dual Scan and typical LC-MS based metabolomics discovery?
A majority of LC-MS based platforms focus on a compromised protocol designed to capture a broad range of hydrophilic and hydrophobic metabolites. At HMT, we separate the charged and hydrophilic metabolites from hydrophobic metabolites by using two different extractions and two methods, CE-MS and LC-MS. By using this approach, we optimize the sensitivity, dynamic range and depth of analysis of hydrophilics at the same time as hydrophobics.
M-Scan – Targeted for Signaling and the Inflammasome
In contrast to the LC-MS method for Dual Scan, M-SCAN represents a novel targeted method for measuring lipid mediators, critical signaling modulators involved in many pathways such as inflammation, allergic response, oxidative stress, and the various metabolic diseases.
The sample protocol for M-SCAN also minimizes large triglycerides in favor of 400 lipid mediators. While the current protocol is designed for relative expression, quantitative profiling for selected lipids can be requested by our clients.
M-Scan Targets Include:
- Fatty acid-derived – prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, lipoxins etc.
- Phosphate structures – platelet activating factors, endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide, 2-acylglycerol), lysophosphatidic acids, lysophotidylcholines, lysophosphatidylserines, sphingosine-1-phosphates etc.
- Sterol structures – glucocorticoids (glucose corticoid), aldosterones (mineral corticoid), sex steroids (estrogen, androgen etc.), bile acids, vitamin D, etc.
Lipid mediators have a wide variety of effects on physiological functions, including immunity, biological defense, blood-pressure regulation, pain or fever, gastrointestinal tract activity and growth, division, and differential regulation of cells. Many diseases are associated with failure in functional balance of such effects. A large portion of lipid mediators act by binding with G-protein coupled receptors found on the cell membrane. Meanwhile, steroid hormones, vitamin A, vitamin D, and others bind with nuclear receptors and induce gene expression changes.