SAMPLE PREPARATION INFORMATION

metaSysX offers an “all-in-one” metabolite extraction: lipids, proteins, starch, and primary and secondary metabolites are obtained concurrently. The advantages: data deriving from the different platforms are highly comparable; and even low amounts of precious samples produce a wide range of compounds.

General Guidelines for Sample Preparation

To facilitate accurate analysis, specific rules for sample preparation are required.

Experimental Design

You are welcome to consult our scientists before designing an experiment.
contact@metasysx.com

Sample Handling

Homogenized handling of all samples in terms of growth environment (e.g. light intensity, temperature, culture volume) and collection (sampling time and methods) is recommended.

Shipping Conditions

Samples should be sent on dry ice (see Type of samples section below). Thaw/refreeze cycles should be avoided due to the potential instability of some analytes. Extra amount of samples is preferred for backup.

Sample Labeling and Packaging

In general samples need to be immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen following harvest and kept at –80 °C until shipment (see Type of samples section below). Samples can be sent intact or ground. We recommend the former in order to prevent potential degradation. High-quality polypropylene tubes are preferred for sending samples. Using permanent markers to label the tube before freezing is highly recommended. We advise against sticky labels due to their instability at low temperature. Please add to the package the sample list and the ordering number.

Sample Information

Sample information should be provided. It should contain a sample ID (identical to ID on the tube) and any other metadata potentially needed for our analysts to guarantee the quality of the data. Sample information should be provided as a hard copy in the package as well as in an electronic version. The latter should be sent to the analyst you are in contact with or to contact@metasysx.com

Shipping Address

metaSysX GmbH
Am Mühlenberg 11
14476 Potsdam-Golm
Germany

Tel.: +49 (0)331 95143603

Type of samples measured at metaSysX

Tissue

  • Collection
    Fresh tissue should be immediately snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen within minutes of sampling, and stored at −80 °C till analysis.
  • Format
    Both ground and intact tissue are acceptable. For long-term stored samples, intact tissue is preferred to avoid degradation.
  • Amount
    Frozen fresh material: 100 mg.
    Freeze dried material: 50 mg.

Cell Culture

  • Volume:
    Packed pellet of cells: 50 to 100 µL
  • Cell Number:
    The cell density should be higher than 2 x 10E7: 1mL.
    Note that cell culture samples subjected to metabolic profiling should have the same cell number.
  • Note on cell collection:
    Collect the cell culture in a falcon tube and spin it down at less than 1000 g for 3–5 min. Discard the supernatant, leaving 1 ml and the cell pellet. The volume should be fixed for all samples. Resuspend the pellet gently in the remaining media and pipette the cells into a 2 ml polypropylene tube. Spin down at the same speed and discard the supernatant. The pellet should be immediately snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen within minutes of sampling and stored at −80 °C till analysis.

Body Fluids

For samples such as blood, plasma, serum, and urine please contact us at contact@metasysx.com
Already extracted samples are preferred. We can provide you with a protocol.

Food-related samples

  • Wine: 2mL
  • Wine must: 2 mL
  • Oil: 1 mL
  • Cell Culture Medium: 2 mL

Other types

Do not hesitate to contact our scientists in case you do not find your type of samples or if you need further details.