MPLEx: a Robust and Universal Protocol for Single-Sample Integrative Proteomic, Metabolomic, and Lipidomic Analyses

Area of Science:

• Systems Biology
• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Integrative multi-omics analyses offer deeper insights into complex biological systems.
• Simultaneous omics measurements from single samples are challenging due to differing extraction requirements.
• Existing multi-omics methods lack robust evaluation for reproducibility and broad applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and evaluate a solvent-based method for simultaneous extraction of metabolites, proteins, and lipids.
• To establish a robust protocol for mass spectrometry-based multi-omics measurements.
• To demonstrate the utility of the developed protocol in an integrative analysis of viral infection.

Main Methods:

• Adapted a solvent-based extraction method for simultaneous metabolite, protein, and lipid extraction (MPLEx).
• Applied the MPLEx protocol to diverse sample types: cell cultures, microbial communities, and tissues.
• Performed integrative multi-omics analysis on lung epithelial cells infected with MERS-CoV.

Main Results:

• The MPLEx protocol proved robust and broadly applicable across various sample types.
• Integrative analysis revealed the impact of MERS-CoV on host glycolytic pathways.
• The study suggested a potential role for lipids in viral infection dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The MPLEx method provides a simple, fast, and robust approach for integrative multi-omics measurements.
• This protocol facilitates comprehensive proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics from single samples.
• MPLEx enhances systems biology research by enabling efficient multi-omic data generation from diverse sources.