The potential of metabolomics tools in bioremediation studies

As a post-genomics tool, metabolomics is a young and vibrant field of science in its exponential growth phase. Metabolome analysis has become very popular recently, and novel techniques for acquiring and analyzing metabolomics data continue to emerge that are useful for a variety of biological studies. The bioremediation field has a lot to gain from the advances in this emerging area. Thus, this review article focuses on the potential of various experimental and conceptual approaches developed for metabolomics to be applied in bioremediation research, such as strategies for elucidation of biodegradation pathways using isotope distribution analysis and molecular connectivity analysis, the assessment of mineralization process using metabolic footprinting analysis, and the improvement of the biodegradation process via metabolic engineering. We demonstrate how the use of metabolomics tools can significantly extend and enhance the power of existing bioremediation approaches by providing a better overview of the biodegradation process.