2B-O1-0950 PDF
メタボローム技術開発昔話とこれからの期待
After Genomics, Transcriptomics and Proteomics, Metabolomics was introduced as the 4thOmics around 2000 (or 1998 as “Metabolome”) based on PubMed information, which means the history of Metabolomics is still less than 20 years. (in the beginning of metabolomics, another word “Metabonomics was popular, but that word firstly appeared around 1999.) In terms of genes or proteins, understanding data is not easy, because relationships between molecular A and B are unclear in many cases. In metabolomics, metabolome maps are substantial and molecular formula (structural formula) is clear, therefore it is relatively easy to speculate mechanisms where is inhibited or activated. Today metabolomics is highly expected to understand deeper biology and apply to human health. Genomics was started by sequencing oligonucleotides and proteomics became popular by easy and quick identification based on mass spectrometry. Qualitative analysis is a main area in these cases, but quantitative data plays a central role in metabolomics. Quantitation of endogenous metabolites or biomarkers in biological fluid has very long history. Even focusing on mass spectrometric quantitation, it had already tremendous applications when I was involved in this area in 1989. At that time, target molecule(s) was only a few, but today metabolomics analyzes many molecules, which creates bigger hurdles. Even though, some basic technologies and know-how are still useful. I would like to present some of my past experiences and future expectations.