Sub-strand 2: Metabolomic/Proteomic Research towards Improved Animal Health and Food Assurance

Researchers at Queen's University have in recent times pioneered techniques for developing targeted and untargeted ‘fingerprinting' analytical approaches to food safety.  Sub-Strand 2 of ASSET applies post-genomic advanced metabolomic / proteomic analysis of the dynamic effects of chemical / biological exposure in living systems and applies observations to efforts to ensure food chain integrity and animal welfare.

 Sub-Strand 2 of ASSET will aim to apply novel metabolomic/proteomic strategies in areas of research related to:

• Growth Promoter Abuse in Food Production Processes
• Dioxin Contamination of Feed/Food Chain
• Disease Processes in Farm Animals

ASSET has recently acquired a state-of-the-art UPLC–qTOF MS instrument to assist in metabolomic/proteomic research activities.

The Xevo G2 QTof mass spectrometer, with UPLC®/MSE and QuanTof technology, offers exceptional levels of sensitivity, selectivity, in-spectrum dynamic range, speed of analysis, quantitative accuracy and exact mass performance simultaneously for any experiment, whether UPLC/MS, MSE or MS/MS. It also delivers UPLC/FastDDA: rapid, automated, intelligent exact mass MS/MS for targeted qualitative analyses as well as isobaric labeling quantitative proteomics experiments.

 NMR Metabolomic Profiling Techniques

Peer reviewed scientific papers relating to Proteomic/Metabolomic activities of ASSET can be accessed below:

Targeted and untergeted profiling of biological fluids to screen for anabolic practices in cattle

Biosensor-based detection of reduced sex hormone-binding globulin binding capacities in response to growth-promoter administrations

Homodimerization is essential for the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)-mediated signal transduction

Feasibility of a clinical chemical analysis approach to predict misuse of growth promoting hormones in cattle

Combining biomarker screening and mass-spectrometric analysis to detect hormone abuse in cattle

The application of NMR to study changes in polar matabolite concentrations in beef longissimus dorsi stored for different periods post mortem

Analysis of betaine and choline contents of aleurone, bran and flour fractions of wheat (T. aestivum L.) using 1H NMR spectroscopy

The application of NMR based metabolomics for mapping metabolite variation in European Wheat

Effect of growth-promoting 17 [beta]-estradiol, 19-nortestosterone and dexamethasone on circulating levels of nine potential biomarker candidates in veal calves

Studies on the persistence of estradiol benzoate and nortestosterone decanoate in hair of cattle following treatment with growth promoters, determined by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

For further information relating to Proteomic/Metabolomic research activities within ASSET please contact Dr Mark Mooney.

ASSET Proteomic/Metabolomic Research Collaborating Partners