MUSERMET: MultiUSER equipment for small molecule identification in untargeted METabolomics

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Many of the projects in the newly formed Liverpool Centre for Metabolomics Research involve a requirement for the sophisticated, detailed, and RAPID analysis of biological samples to identify and measure the many hundreds or thousands of small molecules (metabolites) that they contain. This is done by separating them in a flowing stream (liquid chromatography) followed by their estimation on the basis of their masses and the masses of any fragments that may be produced therefrom (as these form a unique 'signature'). Classically, a major bottleneck has been the IDENTIFICATION of the metabolites represented by what may otherwise be highly reproducible times of the appearance of these mass spectral peaks or signatures. An instrument called the Orbitrap ID-X tribrid, together with an integrated suite of software (to which we shall add), offers a real chance of solving this 'spectrum-to-structure' problem. It may be applied to the solution of multiple problems within the BBSRC remit, and we illustrate several. The aim of this proposal is to secure such an instrument for an extensive User Community in Liverpool and elsewhere. The instrument, while based on established Orbitrap technology, is both novel and unique, and no such instrument is currently available within the UK. This would be a 'first', and we have accordingly secured a substantial contribution from the applicant Universities.