Subcellular metabolomics: Isolation, measurement, and applications

Metabolomics, a technique that profiles global small molecules in biological samples, has been a pivotal tool for disease diagnosis and mechanism research. The sample type in metabolomics covers a wide range, including a variety of body fluids, tissues, and cells. However, little attention was paid to the smaller, re-latively independent partition systems in cells, namely the organelles. The organelles are specific com-partments/places where diverse metabolic activities are happening in an orderly manner. Metabolic disorders of organelles were found to occur in various pathological conditions such as inherited metabolic diseases, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, at the cellular level, the metabolic outcomes of organelles and cytoplasm are superimposed interactively, making it difficult to describe the changes in subcellular compartments. Therefore, characterizing the metabolic pool in the compartmenta-lized system is of great significance for understanding the role of organelles in physiological functions and diseases. So far, there are very few research articles or reviews related to subcellular metabolomics. In this review, subcellular fractionation and metabolite analysis methods, as well as the application of subcellular metabolomics in the physiological and pathological studies are systematically reviewed, as a practical re-ference to promote the continued advancement in subcellular metabolomics. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Metabolomics, a technique profiling global small molecules in biological samples, has become crucial for disease diagnosis and mechanism research. Organelles in cells, where diverse metabolic activities happen orderly, play a significant role in various pathological conditions. Characterizing the metabolic pool in compartmentalized system is important for understanding the role of organelles in physiological functions and diseases.