MICROBIAL AND CELLULAR METABOLOMICS
Provides an in-depth exploration of the use of mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approaches for the quantitative investigation of microbial and mammalian cellular metabolic processes. Using recent examples from primary literature, highlights the application of metabolomics, lipidomics, and metabolic flux analysis to diverse areas, including rational engineering of metabolic pathways, microbial biofuel production, discovery and characterization of new biochemical pathways, metabolic interactions within microbial communities, biochemical capabilities of the human gut microbiome, and mammalian cell metabolism.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: ( BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 , BOTANY/BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 151 , BIOCORE 383 , or BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 ), ( CHEM 341 or 343 ), and ( BIOCHEM 301 , 501 , or 507 ), or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Biological Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the instrumentation and analytical approaches commonly used in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, lipidomics, and metabolic flux analysis studies. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Explain how isotope tracers are used to measure metabolic flux, elucidate metabolic network structure, and investigate pathway thermodynamics. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Critically evaluate primary scientific literature that utilizes metabolomics, lipidomics, or isotope tracer studies as a key research component. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Argue how fundamental concepts in cellular metabolism relate to real-world problems in areas such as microbiology, biotechnology, and human health. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Analyze and interpret published or unpublished metabolomics and lipidomics data to generate biological insights on microbial and/or cellular metabolism. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Analyze and interpret published or unpublished data from isotope-tracer studies to make inferences on pathway activity and metabolic network structure in microbial and/or mammalian cellular systems. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Formulate experimental designs that incorporate metabolomics and isotope tracers to test specific hypothesis related to cellular metabolism. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the instrumentation and analytical approaches commonly used in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, lipidomics, and metabolic flux analysis studies. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Explain how isotope tracers are used to measure metabolic flux, elucidate metabolic network structure, and investigate pathway thermodynamics. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Critically evaluate primary scientific literature that utilizes metabolomics, lipidomics, or isotope tracer studies as a key research component. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Argue how fundamental concepts in cellular metabolism relate to real-world problems in areas such as microbiology, biotechnology, and human health. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Analyze and interpret published or unpublished metabolomics and lipidomics data to generate biological insights on microbial and/or cellular metabolism. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Analyze and interpret published or unpublished data from isotope-tracer studies to make inferences on pathway activity and metabolic network structure in microbial and/or mammalian cellular systems. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Formulate experimental designs that incorporate metabolomics and isotope tracers to test specific hypothesis related to cellular metabolism. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027