代谢组学及其研究策略和分析方法进展

Current trends in analytical methodologies and experimental strategies for metabonomics

代谢组学,研究生物体系受到内在和外在因素刺激产生内源性代谢变化的一门科学,在最近短短几年内取得了迅速发展,发表的相关科学文献和综述的数量急剧上升,但目前对代谢组学的认识和研究仍处于初期发展阶段。代谢组学主体上属于系统生物学范畴,本文基于代谢组学的复杂性、整体性和动态反应性等特点,总结代谢组学的基本概念、目标层次和解析策略,并就代谢组学生物分析策略、数据分析技术现状、发展趋势以及相应可能机制的探讨和面临的挑战等热点问题进行了简要评述。

Metabonomics,the scientific research of endogenous metabolic responses of living systems to pathophysiological stimuli or genetic modification,is basically embedded in the field of systems biology.Metabonomics is a newly emerging but quickly expanding omics with valuable resources of novel and promising approaches to help the understanding of gene-function and action mechanisms in response to endogenous and/or exogenous disturbances.From the perspective of systems biology,however,metabonomics research is just beginning.The updated metabonomics-related concepts,research goals,and different analytical strategies in metabonomics as well as challenges in its complexity,dynamic action,and relationships with other omics are outlined.The current issues in metabonomics are also reviewed and discussed,focusing on systematic experimental methodologies,in particular that of bio-analysis;the exploration of biomarkers through the development of integrated analytical strategies and specialized bioinformatics tools;and the ultimate interpretation of functional networks in a bio-system.