Targeted Metabolomics Analysis Service

What is Targeted Metabolomics?

Targeted metabolomics is a highly precise analytical approach focused on the absolute or relative quantification of a specific set of known metabolites. Unlike untargeted metabolomics—which profiles the global metabolome—targeted analysis delivers quantitative data for metabolites of interest, with exceptional sensitivity and reproducibility. This precision is critical for biomarker validation, pharmacokinetic studies, regulatory submissions, and mechanistic research.

Whether you’re monitoring key metabolic pathways, verifying hypotheses, or ensuring regulatory compliance, targeted metabolomics empowers you to achieve robust, actionable insights with unparalleled confidence.

Why Choose Targeted Metabolomics for Your Research?

Targeted metabolomics is the right choice when your research requires:

• Precise Quantification
  You need accurate, absolute concentrations of specific metabolites for biomarker validation, clinical studies, or regulatory submissions.
• Detection of Low-Abundance Compounds
  Some key metabolites exist at trace levels and demand high sensitivity and selectivity for reliable detection.
• Focused Pathway Analysis
  Your project targets specific metabolic pathways linked to diseases, biological processes, or treatment effects.
• Reproducibility Across Batches
  Consistent, comparable data is essential for multi-sample or multi-center studies.
• Minimal Sample Volumes
  Your samples are precious or limited, requiring efficient analysis without compromising quality.

Targeted metabolomics helps transform these research needs into actionable insights, supporting decision-making across biomedical research, drug development, nutrition, and other fields.

How We Help You Achieve Reliable Results

Our Targeted Metabolomics Service is designed around your needs, helping you move from data to discovery with confidence and clarity.

Here’s how we support your research:

• Precision and Reproducibility
  We use advanced LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS platforms, along with carefully optimized protocols, to deliver consistent, high-quality data you can rely on.
• High Sensitivity for Low-Abundance Metabolites
  Our methods can detect metabolites present at very low levels, enabling accurate measurement of biomarkers or pathway-specific compounds that might otherwise go unnoticed.
• Biological Interpretation Included
  We provide more than just raw numbers. Our reports connect your quantitative results to biological pathways, trends, and potential implications for your study.
• Minimal Sample Requirements
  Our workflows are optimized for small sample volumes, helping you conserve valuable material without compromising data quality.
• Custom Panels for Your Goals
  We can tailor metabolite panels to your research focus—whether you’re investigating specific pathways, disease mechanisms, or particular classes of metabolites.
• Rigorous Quality Control
  Every project includes thorough checks for accuracy, consistency, and data integrity, ensuring you receive trustworthy results.
• Expert Support at Every Step
  Our team is available to discuss your goals, recommend optimal strategies, and help interpret your results to keep your project moving forward.

List of Detected Metabolites

Targeted metabolomics detectable substances include but are not limited to:

Targeted Metabolomics Technical Details & Coverage

Our targeted metabolomics services employ industry-standard instruments and methods to deliver precise, reliable data for a wide range of research and industrial applications. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the optimal platform for your specific needs:

How to Choose?

• Need ultra-sensitive quantification of biomarkers? → LC-MS/MS
• Working with volatile metabolites like organic acids or sugars? → GC-MS/MS
• Interested in high-resolution profiles and structural information? → UHPLC-QTOF-MS
• Seeking robust, label-free profiling with minimal prep? → NMR
• Need solid separation before MS analysis? → HPLC (LC)

SCIEX Triple Quad™ 6500+ (Figure from Sciex)

Agilent 7890B-5977A (Figure from Agilent)

Waters Xevo TQ-s (Figure from Waters)

Agilent 6495 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS Coupled with the Agilent 1290 Infinity II LC System

Workflow for Targeted Metabolomics Service

1

Project Consultation

• Understand your research goals and target metabolites.
• Recommend suitable panels and analytical methods.
• Advise on sample types and required volumes.

2

Sample Preparation & QC

• Apply optimized extraction methods for each matrix.
• Add internal standards for precise quantification.
• Check sample quality and preparation efficiency.

3

Instrumental Analysis

• LC-MS/MS → polar & semi-polar compounds
• GC-MS/MS → volatile or derivatized compounds
• UHPLC-QTOF-MS → high-resolution profiling

4

Data Processing & Interpretation

• Quantify metabolites using validated software.
• Perform statistical analyses (e.g., PCA, group comparisons).

5

Reporting

• Raw data files
• Concentration tables
• Visualizations (heatmaps, plots)
• Biological interpretation

Sample Requirements for Targeted Metabolomics Analysis

How Targeted Metabolomics Supports Your Research and Development

Biomarker Validation and Research

• Validate biomarkers discovered in research studies.
• Measure absolute metabolite levels for biological insights.
• Support research models exploring disease mechanisms.

Pharmacokinetics and Drug Development

• Monitor metabolic pathways affected by drug candidates.
• Study drug metabolism and potential toxicity.
• Analyze endogenous and exogenous metabolites in research contexts.

Nutrition and Health Research

• Quantify metabolites linked to diet and metabolism.
• Investigate metabolic shifts from nutritional interventions or supplements.

Plant and Agricultural Studies

• Analyze plant metabolites related to stress, growth, and quality traits.
• Explore bioactive compounds and natural products.

Toxicology and Safety Assessment

• Detect metabolic changes associated with chemical exposures.
• Profile metabolites as indicators of safety or adverse effects.

Systems Biology and Multi-Omics Integration

• Integrate metabolomics with genomics, proteomics, or transcriptomics.
• Reveal comprehensive biological pathway dynamics.

What Results Will You Receive from Targeted Metabolomics?

Quantitative Data Tables

Detailed tables showing absolute or relative concentrations of each targeted metabolite, enabling precise comparisons across your samples and groups.

Quality Control Reports

Information on internal standards, calibration curves, and QC samples to demonstrate the reliability and consistency of your results.

Data Visualizations

Clear charts and plots, such as heatmaps, volcano plots, or PCA plots, to help you quickly identify trends, significant changes, and metabolic patterns.

Biological Interpretation

Expert analysis connecting metabolite changes to biological pathways, helping you understand the potential implications of your data.

Raw Data Files

Access to raw instrument files (e.g., .raw, .wiff, .d) if you wish to perform your own analysis or data integration.

Simulated mass spectrum demonstrating characteristic m/z peaks for metabolites detected in targeted metabolomics.

Heatmap visualizing relative abundance patterns of targeted metabolites across multiple samples.

Volcano plot displaying significant changes in metabolite levels, highlighting fold change and statistical significance.

PCA plot illustrating sample clustering in targeted metabolomics, with confidence ellipses distinguishing experimental groups.

Targeted Metabolomics Supports Discovery of Methyl Donor Benefits in Neurodegeneration

Background

A leading neuroscience research team investigating neurodegenerative tauopathies sought to determine how methyl donor supplementation—specifically L-methylfolate, choline, and betaine—affects one-carbon metabolism and tau pathology in a transgenic mouse model (TAU58/2 mice).

Challenge:

The researchers required:

• Accurate quantification of low-abundance metabolites linked to one-carbon metabolism and oxidative stress.
• Data sensitive and reproducible enough for correlating metabolic changes with tau pathology.
• Fast turnaround to align with behavioral testing timelines in their animal study.

Our Solution

Creative Proteomics developed a customized targeted metabolomics panel tailored to the client's experimental goals. The panel included:

• One-carbon metabolism markers: betaine, choline, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), total plasma homocysteine (tHcy).
• Antioxidant markers: glutathione (GSH).
• Neurotransmitters: acetylcholine (Ach).

Leveraging HPLC-MS/MS on the Agilent 1290 UHPLC coupled with the Sciex 4000 QTRAP mass spectrometer, our team delivered:

• Highly sensitive and precise quantification via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).
• Triplicate measurements for statistical robustness.
• Timely data delivery that matched the researchers' project schedule.

Results & Findings

Through our targeted metabolomics analysis, the client discovered:

• A ~1.5-fold increase in betaine, ~1.3-fold increase in choline, and ~2.4-fold increase in 5-MTHF in mice receiving methyl donor supplementation.
• A significant ~20% reduction in total plasma homocysteine levels.
• Dramatically elevated glutathione levels in the supplemented group, suggesting improved antioxidant defenses.

These metabolic changes were directly associated with reduced pathological phosphorylation of tau and improved motor and learning performance in the tauopathy mouse model. The data provided critical biochemical insights supporting the therapeutic potential of methyl donors in neurodegenerative diseases.

Impact of methyl donor supplementation on one-carbon metabolism in TAU58/2 mice. (A) Body weight unchanged between methyl donor (MD) and control diet (CD) groups. (B–G) Plasma levels of betaine, choline, 5-MTHF, acetylcholine, total homocysteine, and glutathione. Data: mean ± SD (n=6); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ***p < 0.0001.

Reference

1. van Hummel, Annika, et al. " Methyl donor supplementation reduces phospho‐Tau, Fyn and demethylated protein phosphatase 2A levels and mitigates learning and motor deficits in a mouse model of tauopathy." Neuropathology and applied neurobiology 49.4 (2023): e12931.