Course code:
258H2		 Course name:
Introduction to Metabolomics

Academic year:

2024/2025.

Attendance requirements:

There are no requirements.

ECTS:

9

Study level:

graduate academic studies, integrated basic and graduate academic studies

Study programs:

Chemical Education: 5. year, winter semester, elective (E5AP2) course

Chemistry: 1. year, winter semester, elective (E52H2) course

Teachers:

Dejan M. Gođevac, Ph.D.
principal research fellow, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Njegoševa 12, Beograd

Ljubodrag V. Vujisić, Ph.D.
associate professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Assistants:

Gordana B. Krstić, Ph.D.
assistant professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Ivana V. Sofrenić, Ph.D.
assistant professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Hours of instruction:

Weekly: four hours of lectures + two hours of exercises + three hours of labwork (4+2+3)

Goals:

The objective of this course is to introduce the definition and principles of metabolomics. We want to present the basic principles of experiment setup, sampling, and sample preparation for different analytics platforms. Students will be introduced to the basics of multivariate data analysis in order to interpret the obtained results.

Outcome:

Students will be able to:

  • understand the goal of metabolomics as a multidisciplinary science;
  • perform sampling and sample preparation for analysis;
  • understand the basic concept of analytical platforms (chromatography, mass spectrometry and NMR) used for metabolomics;
  • understand the basics of multivariate data analysis in metabolomics.

Teaching methods:

Lectures, labwork, homework, colloquia and semester papers.

Extracurricular activities:

Guest lectures.

Coursebooks:
  1. Silas G. Villas-Boas, Ute Roessner, Michael A. E. Hansen, Jorn Smedsgaard, Jens Nielsen: Metabolome analysis - an introduction, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  2. Multi- and Megavariate Data Analysis, Part I: Basic Principles and Applications, Umetrics AB

Additional material:

—

  Course activities and grading method

Lectures:

0 points (4 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  1. Metabolomics as a multidisciplinary science.
  2. The place of metabolomics in systems biology - a holistic approach in scientific research.
  3. Primary and secondary metabolites - diversity in structures and physicochemical properties.
  4. Sampling - "quenching" cell metabolism.
  5. Techniques for separating small molecules from macromolecules.
  6. Choosing an analytics platform.
  7. Sample preparation for GC-MS analysis - derivatization and injection techniques.
  8. Sample preparation for LC-MS analysis - solid phase extraction.
  9. Determination of metabolite structure based on GC-MS and LC-MS data.
  10. Determination of metabolite structure in mixture by NMR spectroscopy techniques.
  11. Data processing for multivariate analysis.
  12. Basic methods of multivariate data analysis in metabolomics - PCA, OPLS, OPLS-DA.

Exercises:

0 points (2 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  1. Determination of metabolite structure based on GC-MS data.
  2. Determination of metabolite structure based on LC-MS data.
  3. Multivariate analysis of data from chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.

Labwork:

20 points (3 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  1. Sampling - "quenching" cell metabolism.
  2. Extraction and sample preparation for analysis on different platforms.
  3. Derivatization of samples and adjustment of conditions on a GC-MS device.
  4. Adjust the conditions on the LC-MS.
  5. Adjust the conditions of the 1H NMR spectrum.
  6. Adjustment of the conditions of the 1H NMR spectrum with suppression of the solvent signal.

Semester papers:

20 points

Colloquia:

10 points

Oral exam:

50 points