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Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Untargeted Metabolomics from Biological Sources Using Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry UPLC-HRMS
Published on: May 20, 2013
PANAMA-enabled high-sensitivity dual nanoflow LC-MS metabolomics and proteomics analysis
Weiwei Lin1, Fatemeh Mousavi2, Benjamin C Blum3
1Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract:
High-sensitivity nanoflow liquid chromatography (nLC) is seldom employed in untargeted metabolomics because current sample preparation techniques are inefficient at preventing nanocapillary column performance degradation. Here, we describe an nLC-based tandem mass spectrometry workflow that enables seamless joint analysis and integration of metabolomics (including lipidomics) and proteomics from the same samples without instrument duplication. This workflow is based on a robust solid-phase micro-extraction step for routine sample cleanup and bioactive molecule enrichment. Our method, termed proteomic and nanoflow metabolomic analysis (PANAMA), improves compound resolution and detection sensitivity without compromising the depth of coverage as compared with existing widely used analytical procedures. Notably, PANAMA can be applied to a broad array of specimens, including biofluids, cell lines, and tissue samples. It generates high-quality, information-rich metabolite-protein datasets while bypassing the need for specialized instrumentation.

