Food Metabolomics
Metabolites in biological samples are widely involved in the flavor and aroma of food products. Accordingly, metabolome analysis methods, which provide a comprehensive analysis of metabolites, are being actively applied to research and development of food products, for such applications as analyzing taste components and determining the stability of the quality of fermented foods. The wide target quantitative metabolome analysis approach combines a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS), which provides excellent separation, quantitation, and stability, with a database for primary metabolite analysis. This approach is used in the field of food development as an efficient and effective method of searching for taste components.
Database for Primary Metabolite Analysis
GC/MS Database—Smart Metabolites Database
| Registered Compounds | Derivatization Method | Measurement Method | Number of Compounds Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic acids, fatty acids, amino acids, sugars, etc. |
TMS | Scan | 568 |
| MRM | 475 | ||
| Fatty acids | Methylation | Scan | 50 |
| MRM | 50 | ||
| Amino acids | EZ:faast | Scan | 33 |
LC/MS Database—LC/MS/MS Method Package Ver. 2
| Registered Compounds | Method | Number of Compounds Registered |
|---|---|---|
|
Metabolites, amino acids, nucleotides, etc.
in the major metabolic pathways
|
Ion pair reagent used | 55 |
| Amino acids, organic acids, bases, etc. | PFPP columns used | 97 |
Example of a Food Metabolomics Application
| Item | Target | Component | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliciousness | Taste Components | Primary metabolites and dipeptides | Liquors, beverages,fermented food products,agricultural crops |
| Odor | Volatile components | ||
| Functionality | Functional Components | Secondary metabolites | Agricultural crops, fermented foods, herbal medicines |
| Effects of Components | Primary metabolites | Blood, urine, cells | |
| Quality and Productivity | Fermented and Brewed Products | Primary metabolites | Fermented food products |
| Plant Breeding (Agricultural Crops) | Primary metabolites, phytohormones | Agricultural crops | |
| Distribution and Storage |
Degradation of Components
(Mislabeled Food Products, Distribution, Storage Quality)
|
Volatile components,
primary metabolites
|
Agricultural crops, food products |