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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
14:18
A Strategy for Sensitive, Large Scale Quantitative Metabolomics
Published on: May 27, 2014
Fluxomics: mass spectrometry versus quantitative imaging.
Wolfgang Wiechert1, Oliver Schweissgut, Hitomi Takanaga
1University of Siegen, Paul-Bonatz Strasse 9-11, 57068 Siegen, Germany.
Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|May 8, 2007
Summary
Fluxomics uses advanced technologies like 13C-labeling mass spectrometry and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanosensors to study real-time metabolic regulation. These methods offer high temporal resolution for understanding gene regulation in metabolic pathways.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic Engineering
- Systems Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Metabolism is tightly regulated at multiple levels, including transcriptional, posttranslational, and allosteric controls.
- Pathway flux is determined by the activity of its constituent components.
- Fluxomics aims to identify regulatory genes by tracking metabolic flux.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of real-time metabolic regulation monitoring.
- To compare and contrast key fluxomics technologies.
Main Methods:
- Pulse labeling with tracers (e.g., 13C) followed by mass spectrometry to analyze label partitioning.
- Utilizing flux sensors, specifically fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanosensors, to detect conformational changes indicative of ligand concentration.
Main Results:
- Both mass spectrometry and FRET nanosensors offer high temporal resolution for flux analysis.
- FRET nanosensors provide cellular and subcellular resolution and are minimally invasive.
- Mass spectrometry is effective for studying flux and mutation effects.
Conclusions:
- High-throughput analytic technologies offer real-time insights into metabolic regulation.
- Fluxomics employs complementary methods like mass spectrometry and FRET nanosensors for comprehensive pathway analysis.
- FRET nanosensors present unique advantages in spatial resolution and minimal invasiveness for metabolic studies.
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