Identification of bioactive metabolites using activity metabolomics

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Systems Biology
• Metabolomics and 'Omics' Integration

Background:

• Metabolome analysis traditionally focused on biomarker identification for disease diagnosis.
• The role of metabolomics has expanded to uncovering active drivers of biological processes.
• Metabolites influence cellular functions by modulating genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and proteome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in metabolomics for understanding metabolite influence on other 'omics' levels.
• To highlight the active role of metabolites in physiological and disease states.
• To introduce and discuss 'activity metabolomics' for identifying biologically active metabolites.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on metabolomics and its integration with other 'omics' data.
• Focus on studies demonstrating the functional impact of metabolites on cellular pathways.
• Conceptualization of 'activity metabolomics' as a screening approach.

Main Results:

• Metabolomics is now recognized as a tool for discovering active biological drivers, not just biomarkers.
• Metabolites actively modulate cellular physiology across multiple 'omics' layers.
• The concept of 'activity metabolomics' enables the identification of functionally significant metabolites.

Conclusions:

• Metabolomics offers profound insights into the active roles of metabolites in health and disease.
• The integration of metabolomics with other 'omics' redefines our understanding of biological regulation.
• 'Activity metabolomics' represents a significant advancement in functional metabolite discovery.