The MAP/UK expertise

The MAP/UK partnership brings together a combined wealth of expert knowledge in both biological sample handling and diverse analytical approaches to sample analysis. MAP/UK partners are also experts in study design, bioinformatics, chemometrics, and data interpretation for metabolomics and lipidomics. Explore below to see how the MAP/UK partnership can link cutting-edge analytical capability to your samples, and click any link to get in touch.

 

Sample types

Featured
Blood products
Blood products

Blood products are among the most widely studied and important sample types for understanding human metabolic processes and responses. We work with serum, plasma (all varieties), and whole blood in both liquid form and as dried blood spots.

Urine
Urine

Urine is a metabolic end product rich with the chemical imprint of human endogenous and gut microbial metabolism. Common among biobanks, we are specialised in the analysis of human urine sample sets of any scale.

Intact tissue
Intact tissue

Intact tissue analysis affords researchers direct insight to the metabolic composition of tissues without the need for selective chemical extractions. Where imaging approaches are used, tissue analysis can provide objective analysis of tissue morphology as well as the spatial distribution of chemicals (e.g. drugs and drug metabolites).

Model organisms
Model organisms

Model organisms are key to helping scientists understand biological mechanisms and processes. We work with a range of non-human species including C. elegans, yeast, and animal models.

Cell culture
Cell culture

Cell cultures can act as models for disease and are useful in functional genomics studies. We work with a variety of adherent cell lines and suspension cell cultures, where we can measure both what is happening inside the cell (intra-cellular metabolism), as well as the cell culture (metabolic footprint).

Faecal samples
Faecal samples

Faecal samples provide a unique window to dietary absorbtion and the metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiota. Faecal analysis has been key in developing a better understanding of gastrointestinal disorders and host/microbial co-metabolism. We work with whole stool, and extracts including faecal water.

Saliva
Saliva

Saliva is a readily available sample type which is gaining recognition as a valuable and surprisingly rich source of information related to human and oral microbiome metabolism.

Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid

This clinically important sample type acts as the chemical and nutrient interface between systemic blood circulation and the brain/spinal column. Owing to its proximity and function, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a key focus biofluid in the study of central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

Analytical Capabilities

Global Profiling

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

    • highly abundanct low molecular weight metabolites

    • lipoproteins

  • Ultra high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS)

    • water soluble analytes & low molecular weight metabolites

    • lipidomics (neutral and complex lipids)

  • Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

    • water soluble analytes & low molecular weight metabolites

    • volatile chemical species

  • Direct infusion mass spectrometry (DIMS)

    • water soluble analytes & low molecular weight metabolites

    • lipidomics (neutral and complex lipids)

Targeted quantitative analysis

  • Low molecular weight metabolites

    • Amino acid analysis

    • Tryptophan pathway metabolism

    • Bile acids

    • Oxylipins & eicosanoids

    • Caffeine and associated metabolites

    • Gut permeability

    • TCA cycle metabolites

    • Glycolysis pathway

    • Short chain fatty acids (SCFA)

  • Lipids and lipid metabolites

    • Lipoprotein subclasses

    • Sphingosine 1 phosphate

    • Eox-PL’s

    • Native PL’s

    • Cholesterol and chol-esters

    • Cardiolipins

    • Triglycerides (TAGs)

    • Ceramides

    • Sphingolipids

    • Biotinylated PL’s (for externalisation studies)

Tissue imaging

  • Mass spectrometry-based tissue imaging

  • High-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR spectroscopy

  • Infrared spectroscopy

  • Raman micro-spectroscopy

Metabolite identification and structure elucidation

  • Chromatography and solid phase extraction (SPE) for compound purification

  • 2D NMR spectroscopy

  • High resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and sequential mass spectrometry fragmentation (MSn).

  • Spectral interpretation using statistical spectroscopic approaches (STOCSY, SHY, and other correlation analyses) and spectral libraries/databases.