Table of Contents

About

The Biocrates MxP® Quant 500 kit, a targeted metabolomics assay, is run at the NIA site. Please see detailed information at Biocrates. The MxP® Quant 500 kit measures and reports quantitative values for specific small molecules with a predominant focus on lipids – details, including the list of metabolites assayed, can be found here. Only those metabolites covered by the kit are measured and reported.

  • Dozens of metabolites known to be synthesized and modulated by microbiota.
  • Metabolites are reported with names and quantitative values.
  • Up to 630 metabolites from 26 biochemical classes.

Other kits offered by Biocrates, including some that have more limited coverage and lower cost can also be run if preferred.

Kits come in different sizes (a 96-well plate kit has room for ~80 samples; a 56-well plate kit has room for ~40 samples), so please consult with the Core in selecting the appropriate kit for your project.

Cost

The following are the costs as of November 2, 2023:

  • MxP Quant 500 XL Kit (80 Samples) ≈ $8700
  • MxP Quant 500 XL Kit (40 Samples) ≈ $5800
  • MxP® Quant 500 kit (80 samples) ≈ $7800
  • MxP® Quant 500 kit (40 samples) ≈ $5200
  • Absolute IDQ® p180 kit (40 samples) ≈ $5500
  • Absolute IDQ® p180 kit (40 samples) ≈ $3631

We recognize that you may not wish to purchase a full kit as you may not have enough samples to warrant it. If your project does not fill a kit, we will attempt to merge your samples with those from other projects to limit cost to you (through cost-sharing with the other investigators). We will discuss logistics on a case-by-case basis, but, because of this, if you do not wish to purchase a full kit, the cost per sample and timing of your project run may vary somewhat depending on the availability of other samples.

Analytical Approach

Metabolites are measured using a Nexera HPLC system (Shimadzu) coupled to a 6500 QTRAP® mass spectrometer (AB Sciex) with an electrospray ionization source. Lipids, acyl carnitines, and hexoses are measured over two injections by flow injection analysis-tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS) in positive ionization modes. Amino acids, amino acid related, carboxylic acids, fatty acids, indole derivatives, biogenic amines, bile acids, cresols, alkaloids, amine oxides, hormones, vitamins and cofactors, and nucleobases related metabolites are measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) from two injections in positive and negative ionization modes. Data from all injections are imported and quantified in Biocrates WebIDQ™ software. Analytes in the LC-MS/MS part are quantified using either external 7-point calibration curves with labeled standards or internally with labeled standards. Analytes in the FIA-MS/MS part are quantified using internal standards.

Accepted Samples

The types of samples accepted for analysis are listed below, along with the recommended (and minimum) material required. Additional sample types are welcome but will be accepted after consultation, on a case-by-case basis. Further, if minimum material amounts cannot be met, please contact us for guidance. Replicates and additional important technical issues relating to sample preparation can be discussed during initial project consultation.

Sample Types Minimum Material Recommended Material
Biofluids
Serum or Plasma 20 microliters 50 microliters
CSF 30 microliters 50 microliters
Urine 30 microliters 50 microliters
Cells
Mammalian Cells (Cell Lysates)		 3 million 5 million
Tissues
Brain, Muscle ~15 mg tissue 30 – 50 mg tissue

What is Included?

  • All projects include consultation on experimental design.
  • Analytical measurement of samples by UHPLC-HRMS/MS.
  • Sample preparation handled by the sample submitter (protocols will be provided) or by Core personnel on a case-by-case basis.
  • Processing of raw data via formatting, quality control, and data cleaning.

Conditions

  • Samples must be prepared according to specifications. We reserve the right to refuse samples which do not adhere to guidance.
  • We kindly request that you consider co-authorship or acknowledgement in any resulting work (manuscript, presentation, etc.)

Contact

  • Project requests should be directed to the Trans-NIH Metabolomics Core.
  • Questions about this offering should be directed to Ruin Moaddel, Ph.D.

NIA Participating Laboratory

Ruin Moaddel, Ph.D.
Ruin Moaddel, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Tel 410-558-8294
[email protected]