Metabolite profiles

Metabolomics is the scientific study of chemical processes involving metabolites. Specifically, metabolomics is the "systematic study of the unique chemical fingerprints that specific cellular processes leave behind", the study of their small-molecule metabolite profiles. The metabolome represents the collection of all metabolites in a biological cell, tissue, organ or organism, which are the end products of cellular processes. mRNA gene expression data and proteomic analyses reveal the set of gene products being produced in the cell, data that represents one aspect of cellular function. Conversely, metabolic profiling can give an instantaneous snapshot of the physiology of that cell. One of the challenges of systems biology and functional genomics is to integrate proteomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic information to provide a better understanding of cellular biology. Metabolomics deals with new discoveries in all aspects of plant metabolism, both primary and specialized (secondary). Contributions are encouraged that report the elucidation of metabolic pathways, metabolic regulation, or the biosynthesis and roles of macromolecules. Reports improving our understanding of how phytochemicals act in planta are particularly welcomed, as are studies of transgenic organisms or of metabolic variation.