Remodelling the central dogma of molecular biology

While the central dogma of biology, genetic information is passed on from DNA to RNA via transcription and from RNA to protein via translation, has shaped molecular biology for decades, it often overlooks a vital layer: metabolites. These small molecules are the end products and intermediates of enzymatic reactions, and they directly reflect the biochemical activity within cells. Metabolites are not just passive bystanders: they are active participants in cellular regulation and disease manifestation.

Targeted metabolomics

Quantitative measurement of predefined metabolite panels, enabling accurate and reproducible pathway analysis. Best suited for hypothesis-driven studies and biomarker validation.

Established metabolite panels include glycolysis, TCA cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, nucleotides, amino acids, CoA species, redox molecules, bile acids, carnitines, ketoacids, folate metabolism, polyamines, neurotransmitters, urea cycle, tryptophan pathway, vitamins

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Untargeted metabolomics

Comprehensive, unbiased profiling of metabolites and lipids within a biological sample. This approach enables the discovery of unexpected changes, novel biomarkers, and new pathway connections. Untargeted metabolomics is particularly valuable for exploratory research, large-scale cohort studies, and projects aiming to reveal the metabolic fingerprint of diseases, treatments, or genetic modifications. By providing broad coverage, it can generate new hypotheses and guide subsequent targeted analyses.

Tracer metabolomics

Using stable isotope tracers combined with quantitative metabolomics, we measure label incorporation into metabolites, providing insights into pathway engagement and nutrient utilization. This approach captures label incorporation, making it highly useful for studying pathway activity, metabolic routing, and how cells or tissues process specific substrates under different conditions.

Spatial metabolomics

Spatial metabolomics allows spatially resolved metabolite profiling directly from tissue sections without the need for labels. This creates molecular maps that integrate metabolic information with tissue histology. Powerful tool for studying tumor heterogeneity, metabolic zonation in organs, drug distribution, and disease localization at cellular resolution. It provides unique insights into how metabolic processes are organized in space, offering a bridge between molecular data and tissue architecture.

MS platforms

At the VIB Metabolomics Core Leuven, we offer a broad and complementary range of analytical technologies to support cutting-edge metabolomics research. Our facility is equipped with instruments across multiple categories — including Time-of-Flight (TOF), Orbitrap ans Magnetic Resonance Mass Spectrometry (MR-MS), each with unique strengths and capabilities.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we tailor our workflows to your research question and the metabolites of interest. Whether you're interested in untargeted screening, stable isotope tracing or identifying rare compounds, we select the most suitable platform to ensure high-quality, reproducible data.

Thermo Fisher Q Exactive

Our Thermo Fisher Q Exactive is dedicated to ion-pairing LC-MS analysis, enabling sensitive detection of highly polar metabolites that are often difficult to retain with conventional chromatography. This platform is ideally suited for profiling of central carbon metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, CoA species and redox molecules.

Thermo Fisher Q Exactive Focus

Our Q Exactive Focus combines high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry with both HILIC and reversed-phase chromatography in positive and negative ionization modes. This flexibility enables broad coverage of diverse metabolite classes, making it a powerful platform!

Bruker scimaX MRMS

The Bruker scimaX MRMS provides exceptional mass accuracy and resolving power, allowing the detection of thousands of molecular features in complex biological samples. By directly analyzing samples without chromatographic separation, this platform excels at untargeted metabolomics, molecular formula assignment, and exploration of complex metabolite landscapes.

Thermo Fisher Orbitrap Exploris GC

Our Orbitrap-based GC-MS platform combines powerful chromatographic separation with high-resolution accurate-mass detection. It complements LC-MS workflows by providing access to a distinct and diverse range of metabolites that are not readily captured by routine LC-based approaches. The platform is particularly valuable for chromatographic separation and confident characterization of isomeric compounds.

Waters DESI-MRT

The Waters DESI-MRT enables direct analysis of metabolites from tissue sections while preserving spatial information. This ambient ionization technology allows researchers to visualize the distribution of metabolites, lipids, and other small molecules across biological tissues, providing unique insights into tissue heterogeneity and metabolic organization. Due to its non-destructive nature, tissue slides can be used for spatial metabolomics prior to (immuno)histochemical analysis.

Bruker MALDI-2 timsTOF

Our Bruker MALDI-2 timsTOF combines MALDI imaging with trapped ion mobility separation and post-ionization technology for enhanced sensitivity and molecular coverage. The platform enables high-resolution spatial metabolomics and lipidomics, revealing molecular distributions within tissues at unprecedented detail.

Thermo Fisher Orbitrap Astral

The Orbitrap Astral combines ultra-fast acquisition rates with high sensitivity and mass accuracy, opening new opportunities for advanced multi-omics applications. While primarily deployed in proteomics, we are actively exploring its potential for metabolomics, including improved coverage, sensitivity, and analysis throughput.

Expertise