"The instruments allow us to simultaneously quantify marker metabolites from multiple pathways and provide invaluable information on their functions in physiological and pathophysiological processes"
The Innsbruck-based bioknowledge company Biocrates Life Sciences uses Applied Biosystems's 4000 Q Trap and Qstar XL hybrid LC/MS/MS systems for the systematic quantification and analysis of hundreds of metabolites from minute amounts of clinical or experimental samples.
Klaus Weinberger from Biocrates said: "The most important factors in choosing these instruments were their incredible sensitivity, speed and robustness that cope well with the several hundred samples a day we analyse.
"We have now established a collaborative agreement with Applied Biosystems to develop further methods, instruments and applications in the field of metabolomics.
"The instruments allow us to simultaneously quantify marker metabolites from multiple pathways and provide invaluable information on their functions in both physiological and pathophysiological processes.
"We can routinely detect abnormal concentrations of metabolites in samples associated with various diseases which give us immediate clues to the underlying causes of the respective disease.
"This approach of metabolomics has already identified a number of novel early markers of metabolic disorders and this use of technology no doubt has major potential for further pharmaceutical research in a broad range of diseases."
