University of Oklahoma, Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2013 Jun;24(3):506-15. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.08.012. Epub 2012 Sep 19.
Metabolomics is a powerful tool for the assessment of expressed (in vivo or in situ) biological processes. Metabolite profiling is often employed during field investigations of hydrocarbon-laden environments for the purpose(s) of determining the extent of intrinsic or enhanced natural attenuation of contaminants, developing remediation strategies, and/or gaining a better understanding of microbial processes. During the last twenty-five years, the elucidation of anaerobic biodegradation pathways has not only provided metabolic and molecular biomarkers for environmental assessments of anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism, but also an avenue for integrative field studies. The combination of metabolomics with compound-specific isotope analysis, molecular surveys and/or microcosm studies has demonstrated the need for multiple assessment methods for better resolution of in situ microbial activity.
代谢组学是评估表达（体内或原位）生物过程的有力工具。在烃类污染环境的野外调查中，常采用代谢物分析方法，目的是确定污染物的内在或增强的自然衰减程度、制定修复策略，和/或更好地了解微生物过程。在过去的二十五年中，阐明了厌氧生物降解途径不仅为厌氧烃类代谢的环境评估提供了代谢和分子生物标志物，也为综合野外研究开辟了途径。代谢组学与化合物特异性同位素分析、分子调查和/或微宇宙研究相结合，表明需要采用多种评估方法，以更好地解析原位微生物活性。
