Capillary Electrophoresis in Metabolomics.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Systems Biology

Background:

• Metabolomics analyzes low-molecular-weight compounds in biological systems like cells, tissues, and biofluids.
• Complex biological samples present analytical challenges due to diverse compound properties and concentration ranges.
• Standard techniques include LC-MS and GC-MS, with capillary electrophoresis being a high-resolving but underused method.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of capillary electrophoresis in metabolomics.
• To demonstrate the utility of capillary electrophoresis for metabolite profiling and analysis.
• To provide examples of its use in urine and plasma samples.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on capillary electrophoresis in metabolomics.
• Discussion of analytical requirements for complex biological samples.
• Exemplification of targeted and non-targeted metabolomics approaches.

Main Results:

• Capillary electrophoresis offers high resolution for complex metabolomic analyses.
• It is a valuable technique for metabolite profiling in biological matrices.
• Specific applications in urine and plasma analysis are demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• Capillary electrophoresis is a powerful, high-resolving technique for metabolomics.
• Its underutilization in the field presents opportunities for broader application.
• CE provides effective solutions for metabolite analysis in complex biofluids.