Equipment
The most comprehensive set of technologies for targeted quantitative and untargeted metabolomics.
Access to over $30 million in state-of-the-art metabolomics infrastructure!
Targeted/quantitative and untargeted metabolomics using NMR, CE-MS, GCxGC MS, GC-MS, LC-MS, UPLC, HPLC, and metabolite imaging.
TMIC is able to process 700 samples/week using as little as 20 µL of sample. We continuously monitor the status and output quality of all our instruments to guarantee consistent and high quality results.
Our scientists and technicians are fully trained in standard operating, maintenance, and quality assurance procedures, and have many years of experience in handling a wide range of samples and experimental procedures.
Major Equipment
| High Resolution Mass Spectrometry | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Bruker Impact QTOF II with Thermo UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Bruker Impact QTOF II with Agilent UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Bruker Impact QTOF II with Thermo 2D-UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Agilent 6546 QTOF with UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Agilent 6546 QTOF with 2D-UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240 with nano-UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240 with micro-UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240 with 2D-UHPLC |
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | Bruker MaXis QTOF MS |
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | Thermo QExactive HF with Vanquish UHPLC (Quantity 2) |
| Dr. Christoph Borchers Node Location: McGill University/LDI-JGH | Bruker MaXis QTOF MS |
| Dr. Christoph Borchers Node Location: McGill University/LDI-JGH | Thermo QExactive HF with Vanquish UHPLC |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Thermo LTQ-Orbitrap Velos Pro MS |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Thermo Orbi QE-HF (MSI) |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Thermo LTQ-Orbitrap Fusion MS |
| Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry | Instrument |
|---|---|
Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Waters Xevo Tandem Quadrupole MS |
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | AB Sciex 5500 QTrap MS |
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | AB Sciex 4000 QTrap MS with Turbo ESI (Quantity 2) |
| Dr. Christoph Borchers Node Location: McGill University/LDI-JGH | AB Sciex QTrap 6500 (Quantity 2) |
| Dr. Christoph Borchers Node Location: McGill University/LDI-JGH | Agilent 6495 LC-MS (Quantity 2) |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | AB Sciex QTRAP 6500+ |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | AB Sciex QTRAP 7500 |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Agilent 6495B Tandem Quadrupole MS (Quantity 2) |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Agilent 6495C Tandem Quadrupole MS |
| Multidimensional GCxGC Mass Spectrometry | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. James Harynuk Node Location: University of Alberta | Leco BT LN2 GCxGC TOFMS with Liquid, HS, DHS, TD< SPME injection capabilities |
| Dr. James Harynuk Node Location: University of Alberta | Leco GCxGC FID/TOF-MS with Liquid, HS, DHS, TD, SPME injection capabilities |
| Dr. James Harynuk Node Location: University of Alberta | Leco HRT + LN2 GCxGC-HRTOFMS with EI, PCl, NCl ionization, Liquid, HS, DHS, TD, SPME injection capabilities |
| Dr. James Harynuk Node Location: University of Alberta | Markes BenchTOF Select eV GCxGC FID/TOFMS with flow or cryo modulation, Liquid or TD injection capabilites |
| Dr. James Harynuk Node Location: University of Alberta | GCxGC-TOFMS 1 (PEGASUS) |
| GC-MS | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | Agilent 7890A GC-MS |
| ICP-MS | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | Nexion ICP-MS |
| CE-UV and CE-MS | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. Philip Britz-McKibbin Node Location: McMaster University | Agilent CE-QTOF-MS |
| Dr. Philip Britz-McKibbin Node Location: McMaster University | Agilent CE-TOF-MS (Quantity 3) |
| Dr. Philip Britz-McKibbin Node Location: McMaster University | Agilent CE-UV |
| NMR | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | Bruker 700 MHz NMR |
| HPLC and UPLC | Instrument |
|---|---|
Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | HPLC (UV/FD) |
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | Agilent 1290 UHPLC (Quantity 4) |
| Dr. David Wishart Node Location: University of Alberta | Thermo TSQ Altis MS with Vanquish H Binary UHPLC |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | 4000 QTRAP-1 w Ultimate-3000/Acquity UPLCs |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | LTQ-Orbitrap Velos Pro w Ultimate 3000 UHPL |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | LTQ-Orbitrap Fusion w Vanquish UHPLC |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Agilent 6495B QQQ w 1290 UHPLC (RUNHPLC) |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Agilent 6495C QQQ with 1290 UHPLC (QUADI B) |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | SCIEX QTRAP 6500+ w Waters H-Class UHPLC |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Agilent 6495B QQQ with 1290 UHPLC (Massy_Elliott) |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | SCIEX 7500 w Agilent 1290 |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Bruker tims-TOF fleX |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Dionex UltiMate 3000 UHPLC |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Waters Acquity UPLC System |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Agilent 1290 UHPLC |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Waters UPLC H-Class Plus |
| Dr. Dajana Vuckovic Node Location: Concordia University | LTQ Orbitrap Velos – ETD/Thermo Scientific |
| Dr. Dajana Vuckovic Node Location: Concordia University | Agilent UHPLC 1290 – 6545 QTOF |
| Dr. Dajana Vuckovic Node Location: Concordia University | Agilent UHPLC 1290 – 6460 QqQ |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Agilent 6546 QTOF MS with UHPLC |
| Dr. Liang Li Node Location: University of Alberta | Agilent or Bruker QTOF MS with UHPLC |
| Liquid Handling Systems | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Tecan Freedom EVO 150 Liquid Handling System |
| Dr. Christoph Borchers Node Location: McGill University/LDI-JGH | Agilent Bravo Liquid Handling System |
| MS Imaging | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Spectroglyph dual ESI/MALDI MALDI 2 & Thermo Orbi QE-HF (MSI) |
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Bruker tims-TOF fleX MALDI 2 |
| MALDI-MS | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Dr. David Goodlett Node Location: University of Victoria | Bruker Ultraflex III TOF/TOF MALDI |
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
In NMR-based metabolomics, spectral profiling or spectral deconvolution is frequently used to identify and quantify metabolites from 1D 1H NMR spectra.
TMIC uses Chenomx Spectral Profiling software to identify and quantify metabolites from 1D 1H NMR spectra. TMIC has also developed a fully automated and quantitative NMR spectral profiling system, MagMet. Based on extensive testing with defined mixtures and real biological samples MagMet consistently performs with sensitivity and specificity greater than 98% for compound identification in mixtures with up to 60 different compounds. It also determines metabolite concentrations (down to 10 µM) within 10% of the known or expert-measured concentrations. In other words, MagMet operates at a level that meets or exceeds the performance of the most highly trained human experts. MagMet appears to be the first system that supports fully automated and fully quantitative NMR-based metabolomics.
Using NMR-based metabolomics, it is possible to identify and quantify up to 209 metabolites in urine, 55 metabolites in blood, 50 metabolites in CSF, and 45 metabolites in cell or tissue extracts in a single analysis. NMR is ideal for studying amino acids, organic acids, amines, sugars and alcohols.
TMIC currently houses the following NMR instrumentation:
– A 700 MHz Varian NMR with 5mm cold probe.
GC-MS and Multidimensional GCXGC MS
TMIC has developed multiple extraction techniques and uses external calibration-based quantitation for GC-MS analyses. AutoGC software is being developed by TMIC which will semi-automatically identify and quantify metabolites. The NIST08 GC-MS and Golm Metabolome Databases are also used for metabolite identification. With our GC-MS methods, identification and quantification of up to 100 metabolites in urine, 40 metabolites in blood, 60 metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid, and 35 metabolites in cell or tissue extracts is possible. GC-MS is ideal for studying amino acids, biogenic amines, primary amines, organic acids and sugars.
We also offer GC-MS-based lipidomics, using reverse phase HPLC-ELSD to separate lipid classes into 7 groups followed by FAMES and GC-MS analysis to identify and quantify the component fatty acid chains. TMIC-developed Combinatorial Lipid Reconstruction software is used to reconstruct lipid molecules and calculate their concentrations. These lipidomics methods are ideal for identifying/quantifying fatty acids, neutral lipids, phospholipids, and sphingolipids.
Additionally, separation, identification and quantification of small volatile and semi-volatile molecules by two-dimensional GC-MS is offered by TMIC. GCxGC is the gold standard in separating and quantifying exceedingly complex samples of volatile organic compounds, which play a key role in food, flavour and aroma metabolomics, as well as plant and animal communication. This platform is ideal for the analysis of volatile and semi-volatile compounds, as well as those compounds which can be derivatized with a standard methoximation / silylation chemistry which permits us to see sugars, sterols, and larger molecules. We also have a wide range of sample introduction methods available that can be used with GC×GC-TOFMS in addition to standard liquid injections. These include capabilities for large-volume injection, automated headspace, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), dynamic headspace, and thermal desorption from sorbent tubes. These allow us to easily tackle samples such as volatiles from soil, water, plants, food and beverages, and breath, in addition to more conventional biosamples (urine, plasma, etc).
The Following GC-MS And GCxGC Instruments Are Available At TMIC:
LC-MS and HPLC
TMIC has developed a number of direct injection and LC-MS methods for targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Tandem quadrupole and ion trap instruments are ideal for targeted and quantitative studies. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is used on these instruments to selectively measure specific metabolites and their internal standard, providing absolute quantitation. Our TOF systems provide the high resolution and mass accuracy required for identification of unknowns in untargeted studies. Direct injection analysis has the advantage of speed, and we are currently able to identify and quantify up to 180 different metabolites in a single analysis from blood, urine, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue and cell extracts, including phospholipids, sphingolipids, lysophospholipids, acylcarnitines, amino acids, and biogenic amines.
TMIC also offers quantitative selective isotope labeling of metabolites (SILOM), which involves chemical modification techniques that are specific to amines, carboxylic acids and hydroxyl groups. This allows for efficient chemo-specific labeling of metabolites with 13C or 12C isotope tags. Spiking known quantities of 13C labelled compounds into biofluids labelled with 12C tags combined with high resolution MS analysis provides identification and quantification of hundreds of metabolites.
In untargeted studies, commercial software (SIMCA by Umetrics) and in-house developed software are used for data processing, including multivariate statistical analysis for identification of changes in metabolite abundance between groups of samples. Untargeted metabolomics studies also utilize UPLC separation followed by Q-TOF MS analysis, or FT-MS analysis, which can yield semi-quantitative data for up to >5000 features per analysis, in as little as 30 minutes.
The following list of instrumentation includes tandem quadrupole, ion trap, and TOF instruments for targeted and untargeted studies:
TMIC offers HPLC-based methods for identifying and quantifying carotenoids, polyphenols, chlorophylls, bile acids and thiols, as well as for lipidomics studies. Our lipidomics workflow includes reverse phase HPLC-ELSD, which separates lipid classes into 7 groups. FAMES and GC-MS analysis are then performed to identify and quantify the component fatty acid chains. Combinatorial Lipid Reconstruction software, developed by TMIC is used to reconstruct lipid molecules and calculate their concentrations. Our lipidomics assays are capable of identifying and quantifying 2000-3000 lipids per sample.
Specialized metabolite assays are also available, using fluorescence-based or UV-based HPLC assays. Specialized metabolite assays include polyphenols, phytochemicals, nucleotides/ nucleosides, vitamins, thiols, bile acids, exotic lipids and extracts.
TMIC houses 6 HPLC/UPLC systems that are dedicated to these analyses:
Also Available:
-Waters Acquity UPLC system with UV detector (2 instruments)
-Dionex Ultimate 3000 Dual HPLC system with UV detector
TMIC also offers ICP-MS for quantitative metallomics. We routinely identify and quantify 20-40 metal ions in a wide variety of biological matrices.
A Perkin-Elmer Sciex Elan 6000 Quadrupole ICP-MS with a dual-stage detector is currently used for metal ion studies.
Capillary electrophoresis (CE) offers versatile separation modes for global metabolomic analysis, and is especially well-suited to the analysis of polar/ionic metabolites from volume-limited (< 5uL) or mass-limited (< 5 mg dried weight) specimens. This is a major benefit to metabolomic studies involving precious bio-banked samples (3.2 mm dried blood spot punch), human tissue biopsies (muscle), or animal (mouse) models. Our CE-MS group also specializes in multisegment injection CE-MS for high throughput biomarker discovery which has proven to be particularly useful in large-scale studies involving thousands of samples.
Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a technique used in mass spectrometry to visualize the spatial distribution of molecules, as biomarkers, metabolites, peptides or proteins by their molecular masses.
