Chapter 4 - Mass spectrometry in metabolomics

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique highly spread in several fields from health to food science. In recent years, an exponential growth of interest in the application of MS to metabolomics has emerged. Metabolomics investigations are focused on the quantitation of several metabolites in a single analysis within complex matrices. This aim is particularly challenging as the set of metabolites constitutes a very complex pool of molecules whose relative abundance is constantly changing. The improved sensitivity and resolution of modern MS greatly increase metabolite identification and metabolome coverage, resulting in a higher use of MS-based techniques in these studies. MS coupled with gas and liquid chromatography methods (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry techniques) have been developed to manage these analyses. This chapter describes the principal techniques and strategies and the major characteristics of the MS-based metabolomics highlighting the sensitivity, fast data acquisition, opportunities and challenges.