Sample preparation and LC-MS for metabolomic and exposomic analyses: studies and application for multiple biological matrices

• Grant number: 18/01448-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Alvaro José dos Santos Neto
• Grantee: Alvaro José dos Santos Neto
• Host Investigator: Caroline Helen Johnson
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Yale University, United States
• Associated research grant: 17/02147-0 - Single drop chromatography and its coupling to mass spectrometry: instrumental strategies, development of materials, automation and analytical applications, AP.TEM

Abstract

Metabolomics has required the evolution of analytical protocols and bioinformatics. The advances in this scientific area apply from microorganisms and plants to toxicological/environmental problems related with the exposure of humans to chemical contaminants. The success of an experiment in metabolomics depends on experimental design, sample collection, extraction, analysis of the extract, data processing and statistics, steps that still require additional optimization. In this proposal, we aim to advance the analysis of biological samples by LC-MS based metabolomics and develop exposome-level environmental chemical analyses. The expert knowledge of the applicant in microextraction and LC-MS will be combined with the specialties of the host research group in metabolomics and exposomics, for improvements in toxicant, and target and untarget metabolites analyses in multiple samples from pregnancy (placenta tissues, umbilical cord serum, mother's urine and mother's serum). By means of a protocol comparing term and preterm births, miniaturized techniques and methods will be investigated for determining the dynamic range of xenobiotics, and endogenous and exogenous metabolites. In addition to analytical advances in miniaturization applied on metabolomics, we aim to evaluate: (I) the variation of metabolic profiles among different tissues and sampling location (e.g., fetal side vs mother side of placenta), (II) if a random sampling is effective for metabolomic analysis of placenta and other tissues, (III) the existence/identity of metabolic and toxicant biomarkers of preterm birth. Finally, this grant will contribute for expanding the knowledge of the applicant for the emergent fields of metabolomics and exposomics, in a judiciously selected host research group. Further, we have the future perspective of scientific collaborations and the application of metabolomic studies in the applicant's research group, attending to an already existing demand and contributing to the success of our running projects in Brazil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VOLLMAR, ANA K. ROSEN; RATTRAY, NICHOLAS J. W.; CAI, YUPING; SANTOS-NETO, ALVARO J.; DEZIEL, NICOLE C.; JUKIC, ANNE MARIE Z.; JOHNSON, CAROLINE H.. Normalizing Untargeted Periconceptional Urinary Metabolomics Data: A Comparison of Approaches. METABOLITES, v. 9, n. 10, OCT 2019. (18/01448-9)

CAI, YUPING; RATTRAY, NICHOLAS J. W.; ZHANG, QIAN; MIRONOVA, VARVARA; SANTOS-NETO, ALVARO; MUCA, ENGJEL; VOLLMAR, ANA K. ROSEN; HSU, KUO-SHUN; RATTRAY, ZAHRA; CROSS, JUSTIN R.; et al. Tumor Tissue-Specific Biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer by Anatomic Location and Stage. METABOLITES, v. 10, n. 6, JUN 2020. (18/01448-9)

CHARKOFTAKI, GEORGIA; GOLLA, JAYA PRAKASH; SANTOS-NETO, ALVARO; ORLICKY, DAVID J.; GARCIA-MILIAN, ROLANDO; CHEN, YING; RATTRAY, NICHOLAS J. W.; CAI, YUPING; WANG, YEWEI; SHEARN, COLIN T.; et al. Identification of Dose-Dependent DNA Damage and Repair Responses From Subchronic Exposure to 1,4-Dioxane in Mice Using a Systems Analysis Approach. TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES, v. 183, n. 2, p. 338-351, OCT 2021. (18/01448-9)