CPExtract, a Software Tool for the Automated Tracer-Based Pathway Specific Screening of Secondary Metabolites in LC-HRMS Data

The use of stable isotopically labeled tracers is a long-proven way of specifically detecting and tracking derived metabolites through a metabolic network of interest. While the recently developed stable isotope-assisted methods and associated, supporting data analysis tools have greatly improved untargeted metabolomics approaches, no software tool is currently available that allows us to automatically and flexibly search liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) chromatograms for user-definable isotopolog patterns expected for the metabolism of labeled tracer substances. Here, we present Custom Pattern Extract (CPExtract), a versatile software tool that allows for the first time the high-throughput search for user-defined isotopolog patterns in LC-HRMS data. The patterns can be specified via a set of rules including the presence or absence of certain isotopologs, their relative intensity ratios as well as chromatographic coelution. Each isotopolog pattern satisfying the respective rules is verified on an MS scan level and also in the chromatographic domain. The CPExtract algorithm allows the use of both labeled tracer compounds in nonlabeled biological samples as well as a reversed tracer approach, employing nonlabeled tracer compounds along with globally labeled biological samples. In a proof-of-concept study, we searched for metabolites specifically arising from the malonate pathway of the filamentous fungi Fusarium graminearum and Trichoderma reesei. 1,2,3-C-13(3)-malonic acid diethyl ester and native malonic acid monomethyl ester were used as tracers. We were able to reliably detect expected fatty acids and known polyketides. In addition, up to 46 and 270 further, unknown metabolites presumably including novel polyketides were detected in the F. graminearum and T. reesei culture samples, respectively, all of which exhibited the user-predicted isotopolog patterns originating from the malonate tracer incorporation. The software can be used for every conceivable tracer approach. Furthermore, the rule sets can be easily adapted or extended if necessary. CPExtract is available free of charge for noncommercial use at https://metabolomics-ifa.boku.ac.at/CPExtract.

Automated summary

The use of stable isotopically labeled tracers is an effective method in detecting and tracking metabolites. However, there is currently no software tool available for automatically searching user-defined isotopolog patterns in LC-HRMS data. CPExtract is a versatile software tool that allows high-throughput search for isotopolog patterns in LC-HRMS data.