Since the completion of the sequencing of the human genome, the main goals of functional genomics have been to determine the function of the products of newly identified genes, as well as to determine those that might be therapeutically targeted. To date functional genomic strategies have largely centred on gene expression studies (transcriptomics) or protein profiles (proteomics). Metabolic activity can also be quantified, as various analytical tools have been developed to measure concentrations of low molecular weight metabolites. This is a particularly challenging task as low molecular weight metabolites represent a diverse range of chemicals. Perhaps the best description of this approach was offered by Steve Oliver of University of Cambridge, who used the term ‘metabolomics’ to describe “the complete set of metabolites/low molecular weight intermediates, which are context dependent, varying according to the physiology, developmental or pathological state of the cell, tissue, organ or organism”.

Some useful links:

Societies

• The Metabolomics Society. Representative body of metabolism-based research
• The Metabolomics Standards Initiative (MSI) An Oversight Committee to monitor, coordinate and review the efforts of working groups (WG) in specialist areas that will examine standardization and make recommendations.

Data Bases

• The NMR metabolomics database of Linkoping, Sweden (MDL). An on-line database and publically accessible depository dedicated to the omics of small biomolecules. It is intended to facilitate access to NMR parameters of small metabolites in liquid phase (aqueous solutions only).

• Biological Magnetic Resonance Bank (BMRB). This Metabolomics database is available to the NMR community.
• The Human Metabolome Database (HMDB). An electronic database containing detailed information about small molecule metabolites found in the human body.
• The Madison Metabolomics Consortium Database (MMCD). This database, maintained by the National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, is a resource for metabolomics research based on NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.
• The Brüschweiler Laboratory COLMAR Metabolomics Web Portal . Complex Mixture Analysis by NMR (COLMAR)
• KEGG pathway database (KEGG). A collection of manually drawn pathway maps representing our knowledge on the molecular interaction and reaction networks
• BioCyc. A collection of 371 Pathway/Genome Databases
  • MetaCyc. Metabolic pathways and enzymes from more than 900 organisms

Groups

• Metabolomics Research at Imperial College
• Oliver Fiehn Lab (University of California)
• Douglas Kell Group (University of Manchester)
• Gary Siuzdak Group and metabolomic centre
• RIKEN metabolomics research
• Roy Goodacre Group (University of Manchester)
• Mark Viant's research group (University of Birmingham)
• Metabolomics at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
• Platform Plant Metabolomics
• UK Centre for Plant and Microbial Metabolomics