Heidelberg University
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Core Facility – MCTP Metabolomics Core Technology Platform

The Metabolomics Core Technology Platform (MCTP) is a DFG-registered (RI492) core facility of the Heidelberg University and is part of the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS). The MCTP determines concentrations of small molecules in biological samples on a recharge, non-profit base. Depending on the requirements of your project, we offer tailor-made solutions as well as standardized metabolomics assays.

Logo image, 4 round buttons aligned like a vertikal bead-string, each holding the first letter to each following word: Metabolomics Core Technology Platform. The word “Technology” is accompanied with vertical lines in grey, green and red making it look somewhat like a diagram.

Project Request

Illustrated MCTP Timeline with 6 steps for Service Requests: 1. First Contact via Email to metabolomics-projects@uni-heidelberg.de, 2. Research Plan: Setting Project aims, 3. Online Request via iLab (see Button “Ordering&Billing” on Website), 4. Sample Submission: Samples are submitted according to guidelines, 5. Lab Work: Measurements are performed / Methods are developed, 6. Analysis results: results are sent out.

All researchers from Heidelberg University and the Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim are welcome to request help or place orders for metabolite analyses. External projects can be accepted upon discussion.

Before sample submission please:

  • Follow the steps of our sample submission checklist.
  • Read carefully the general guideline for metabolite analyses with specified requirements for metabolite analyses.
  • See our end-user license agreement (EULA) for more general information on the MCTP's services as well as users' rights and duties. New customers are requested to bring a signed copy of the EULA when submitting the first sample set.

The costs of core facility services – system usage and consumables - have to be charged directly to the users. For detailed prices of the different analyses please contact the MCTP. Prices can also be seen upon login to the online booking system.

The MCTP uses an online system from iLab Solutions designed to streamline the process of ordering and billing for core service requests. Please register here to submit your order.

Services & Equipment

Services

We strive to provide high-quality analytical services at competitive prices, and regularly customize and develop assays to fit our users’ needs. We are project partner of the bio-medical research consortium SMART-CARE as well as the CRC 1118 “reactive metabolites as a cause of diabetic complications”.

In addition, we are one of the few certified laboratories worldwide for Metabolomics kit based assays developed by Biocrates.

  • Targeted metabolomics
  • Untargeted metabolomics
  • Large-scale metabolome profiling
  • 13C metabolic tracing analysis
decorative image: a collage of 4 photos shows some of the matrices that the facility offers to analyze. In the center a transparent red square overlaps the photos with white text: Analyzed Matrices - Prokaryotes; yeast; cell cultures; tissue, e.g. human, animal, plant; body fluids, e.g. blood, urine, CSF; supernatants, e.g. from cultures; further matrices can be established upon request

Equipment

  • High sensitivity triple-quad LC-MS/MS instruments for targeted assays
  • High-resolution, high mass accuracy LC-QTOF with ion-mobility separation, mainly for Untargeted Metabolomics
  • GC-TOF instrument for central metabolism screening & GC-MS for analyses of fatty acids
  • Various LC systems coupled to optical and special detectors & automated pipetting system

Further Information on our Services & Equipment 

Team

Image shows the MCTP team standing next to each other consisting of five men and two women. All are facing the camera and smiling

Table

Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hell
Scientific Director
Dr. Gernot Poschet 
Managing Director
Dr. Michael Büttner
Scientific Staff

michael.buettner@cos.uni-heidelberg.de


+49 6221 54-5788
Dr. Glynis Klinke
Postdoc

glynis.klinke@cos.uni-heidelberg.de


+49 6221 54-5536
Dipl.-Ing. Eva-Maria Käshammer-Lorenz
Technical Assistant

eva-maria.kaeshammer@cos.uni-heidelberg.de


+49 6221 54-5536
Dipl.-Geoökol. Nina Kunze-Rohrbach
Technical Assistant

nina.kunze@cos.uni-heidelberg.de


+49 6221 54-5649
Dipl.-Biol. Michael Schulz
Technical Assistant

michael.schulz@cos.uni-heidelberg.de


+49 6221 54-5649
Birgit Maresch
Administration

birgit.maresch@cos.uni-heidelberg.de


+49 6221 54-5782

Contact

For project related enquiries:
metabolomics-projects@uni-heidelberg.de

For sample submission and pickup:       
metabolomics-samples@uni-heidelberg.de

Shipping Address
MCTP
Centre for Organismal Studies
Universität Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 360
69120 Heidelberg
Germany

Map Screenshot of the MCTP´s location in Heidelberg´s Botanical Garden

Selected publications

Table

Erben V, Poschet G, Schrotz-King P, Brenner H. (2021) Comparing Metabolomics Profiles in Various Types of Liquid Biopsies among Screening Participants with and without Advanced Colorectal Neoplasms. Diagnostics 11(3):561.
Mock-Ohnesorge J, Mock A, Hackert T, Fröhling S, Schenz J, Poschet G, Jäger D, Büchler MW, Uhle F, Weigand MA. (2021) Perioperative changes in the plasma metabolome of patients receiving general anesthesia for pancreatic cancer surgery. Oncotarget. 12(10):996-1010.
Friedrich M, Sankowski R, Bunse L, Kilian M, Green E, Guevara C, Pusch S, Poschet G, Sanghvi K, Hahn M, Bunse T, Münch P, Gegner H, Sonner J, von Landenberg A, Cichon F, Aslan K, Trobisch T, Schirmer L, Abu-Sammour D, Kessler T, Ratliff M, Schrimpf D, Sahm F, Hopf C, Heiland D, Schnell O, Beck J, Böttcher C, Fernandez-Zapata C, Priller J, Heiland S, Gutcher I, Quintana F, von Deimling A, Wick W, Prinz M, Platten M (2021) Tryptophan metabolism drives dynamic immunosuppressive myeloid states in IDH-mutant gliomas. Nat Cancer 2, 723–740.
Sadik A, Somarribas Patterson LF, Öztürk S, Mohapatra SR, Panitz V, Secker PF, Pfänder P, Loth S, Salem H, Prentzell MT, Berdel B, Iskar M, Faessler E, Reuter F, Kirst I, Kalter V, Foerster KI, Jäger E, Guevara CR, Sobeh M, Hielscher T, Poschet G, Reinhardt A, Hassel JC, Zapatka M, Hahn U, von Deimling A, Hopf C, Schlichting R, Escher BI, Burhenne J, Haefeli WE, Ishaque N, Böhme A, Schäuble S, Thedieck K, Trump S, Seiffert M, Opitz CA.(2020) IL4I1 Is a Metabolic Immune Checkpoint that Activates the AHR and Promotes Tumor Progression. Cell 182(5):1252-1270.
Jaskulski S, Jung AY, Huebner M, Poschet G, Hell R, Hüsing A, Gonzalez-Maldonado S, Behrens S, Obi N, Becher H, Chang-Claude J. (2020) Prognostic associations of circulating phytoestrogens and biomarker changes in long-term survivors of postmenopausal breast cancer. Nutr Cancer 72(7):1155-1169.
Schenz J, Tamulyte S, Nusshag C, Brenner T, Poschet G, Weigand MA, Uhle F. (2020) Population-Specific Metabolic Alterations in Professional Antigen-Presenting Cells Contribute to Sepsis-Associated Immunosuppression. Shock. 53(1):5-15.
Nietzel, T., Mostertz, J., Ruberti, C., Née, G., Fuchs, P., Wagner, S., Moseler, A., Müller-Schüssele, S.J., Benamar, A., Poschet, G., Büttner, M., Møller, I.M., Lillig, C.H., Macherel, D., Wirtz, M., Hell, R., Finkemeier, I., Meyer, A.J., Hochgräfe, F. & Schwarzländer, M. (2020) Redox-mediated kick-start of mitochondrial energy metabolism drives resource-efficient seed germination. Proceedings National Academy Science U.S.A. 117: 741-751.

Funding Resources

Row of logos of funding resources, from left to right: Federal ministry of education and research, German Research Foundation, German Cancer Research Center, SmartCare, SFB1118, Excellence Cluster CellNetworks

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