The metabolome of a biological system can change within a few seconds or minutes. Sample preparation is one of the most critical parts of a successful metabolomics experiment.
Sample collection, processing and storage can affect concentrations of metabolites changes, resulting in an inaccurate data.
Here we demonstrate a step-by-step procedure for aqueous methanol extraction of polar metabolites from HeLa cell culture. This general protocol can be adapted for other samples considering: 1) type of biological matrix 2) sample collection 3) quenching of cellular metabolism 4) extraction and recovery of metabolites 5) drying 6) storage and shipment.
Read more about protocols via https://www.embl.de/mcf/metabolomics-core-facility/protocols/index.html.
