Metabolomics plays a crucial role in cellular communication by facilitating the exchange of metabolites between cells and tissues, enabling signaling and coordination of various biological processes.

LC-MS is widely employed in metabolomics due to its high sensitivity, versatility, and ability to analyze a broad range of metabolites in complex biological samples.

Metabolome profiling refers to the comprehensive analysis of the complete set of metabolites present in a biological system, providing a snapshot of the metabolic state of the system.

Lipids, particularly triglycerides, serve as the primary energy storage molecules in many organisms, providing a compact and efficient form of energy reserve.

Glycolysis is the initial stage of cellular respiration, responsible for breaking down glucose into pyruvate, generating energy in the form of ATP and NADH.

Beta-oxidation is the primary pathway for the breakdown of fatty acids, converting them into acetyl-CoA, which can then enter the citric acid cycle for energy production.

The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle, is a central metabolic pathway that generates energy in the form of ATP, NADH, and FADH2 through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

Gluconeogenesis is the process of synthesizing glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, such as amino acids and glycerol, when glucose is not readily available.

The electron transport chain is a series of protein complexes that transfer electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen, generating ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

Catabolism encompasses the metabolic pathways that break down complex molecules, including amino acids, into simpler molecules, releasing energy and generating intermediates for other metabolic processes.

The pentose phosphate pathway, also known as the pentose shunt, generates NADPH, a reducing agent essential for various cellular processes, including lipid and nucleotide synthesis.

Ketogenesis is the metabolic pathway that converts fatty acids into ketone bodies, such as acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate, as an alternative energy source during periods of limited glucose availability.

The urea cycle is a metabolic pathway that converts toxic ammonia, a byproduct of amino acid metabolism, into urea, which is excreted from the body.

Purine biosynthesis is the metabolic pathway that synthesizes purine nucleotides, essential components of DNA and RNA, from simple precursors.

The glyoxylate cycle is a metabolic pathway found in plants and some microorganisms that allows for the synthesis of fatty acids from acetyl-CoA, bypassing the citric acid cycle.