Data management in metaboloinformatics: Issues and challenges

Abstract

Metaboloinformatics can be considered as derivation of knowledge from computer analysis of metabolomite resources. Metabolomics is the systematic analysis of thousands of non peptide small compounds such as sugars, fatty acids, vitamins etc. at the cellular and tissue level of a living organism. Using metabolomic technologies, researchers are able to systematically determine metabolite concentration in a sample. These developing technologies have the potential of being applied in the areas of drug discovery and development and preventive screening/diagnostics. In this paper, we identify the issues and challenges in metaboloinformatic data management. We also discuss how the gRNA can be used to address some the challenges in this field. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.