Advances in Chiral Metabolomic Profiling and Biomarker Discovery

Chiral metabolomics entails the enantioselective measurement of the metabolome present in a biological system. Over recent years, it has garnered significant interest for its potential in discovering disease biomarkers and aiding clinical diagnostics. D-Amino acids and D-hydroxy acids, traditionally overlooked as unnatural, are now emerging as novel signaling molecules and potential biomarkers for a range of metabolic disorders, brain diseases, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer. Despite their significance, simultaneous measurements of multiple classes of chiral metabolites in a biological system remain challenging. Hence, limited information is available regarding the metabolic pathways responsible for synthesizing D-amino/hydroxy acid and their associated pathophysiological mechanisms in various diseases. Capitalizing on recent advancements in sensitive analytical techniques, researchers have developed various targeted chiral metabolomic methods for the analysis of chiral biomarkers. Here, we highlight the pivotal role of chiral metabolic profiling studies in disease diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, we describe cutting-edge chromatographic and mass spectrometry methods that enable enantioselective analysis of chiral metabolites. These advanced techniques are instrumental in unraveling the complexities of disease biomarkers, contributing to the ongoing efforts in disease biomarker discovery.