Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Metabolomics: Identification and Quantification of Metabolites
The field of metabolomics, particularly the identification and quantification of metabolites, has been greatly expedited by advancements in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology. LC-MS combines the physical separation properties of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry, thus rendering an unparalleled potential for accurate profiling of metabolites in biological samples. The power of metabolomics lies in its ability to survey the complete set of metabolites or the metabolome in biological systems. However, the extensive diversity of the metabolome, characterized by wide-ranging physicochemical properties, presents a formidable challenge for any single analytical methodology. That’s where LC-MS comes into play. In LC-MS, liquid chromatography separates complex biological samples into individual metabolite components, while mass spectrometry provides exact mass measurements facilitating the identification and quantification...