Profiling Metabolites and Peptides in Single Cells

Overview

Journal Nat Methods

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
Pathology

Date 2011 Apr 1

PMID 21451513

Citations 142

Authors

Stanislav S Rubakhin

Elena V Romanova

Peter Nemes

Jonathan V Sweedler

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The intracellular levels and spatial localizations of metabolites and peptides reflect the state of a cell and its relationship to its surrounding environment. Moreover, the amounts and dynamics of metabolites and peptides are indicative of normal or pathological cellular conditions. Here we highlight established and evolving strategies for characterizing the metabolome and peptidome of single cells. Focused studies of the chemical composition of individual cells and functionally defined groups of cells promise to provide a greater understanding of cell fate, function and homeostatic balance. Single-cell bioanalytical microanalysis has also become increasingly valuable for examining cellular heterogeneity, particularly in the fields of neuroscience, stem cell biology and developmental biology.

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