Metabolomics: beyond biomarkers and towards mechanisms

Metabolomics has been utilized extensively for the identification of single metabolites and their use as biomarkers. Owing to recent technical advances, it is now possible to use metabolomics to better understand whole metabolic pathways and to more precisely pinpoint the involvement of metabolites in physiology and pathology. Metabolomics, which is the profiling of metabolites in biofluids, cells and tissues, is routinely applied as a tool for biomarker discovery. Owing to innovative developments in informatics and analytical technologies, and the integration of orthogonal biological approaches, it is now possible to expand metabolomic analyses to understand the systems-level effects of metabolites. Moreover, because of the inherent sensitivity of metabolomics, subtle alterations in biological pathways can be detected to provide insight into the mechanisms that underlie various physiological conditions and aberrant processes, including diseases.