Identification of Bioactive Metabolites Using Activity Metabolomics

Rinschen, M.M.; Ivanisevic, J,; Giera, M.; et al.

The field of metabolic MS research has evolved over the past decade in its breadth and scope of study. This has progressed from biomarker-driven exercises to biological process studies involving a metabolomics-centric or multi-omics based approach. Siuzdak et al. herein reviews the role metabolomics plays in the active metabolite discovery process, and the influence that metabolites have, either alone or in combination with analytes from other ‘omics levels, on the phenotype. Extending from discovery-oriented profiling to stable isotope-assisted tracing, general MS workflows to elucidate metabolite bioactivity (both in vitro and in vivo) are reviewed along with recent advances in computational tools. These are collectively designed to better understand the physiological role of bioactive metabolites.