RefMetaPlant

RefMetaPlant provides a reference metabolome database for plants and computational tools to support identification, comparative analysis, and genome-scale metabolite analysis using untargeted LC-MS/MS mass spectral data from 153 plant species spanning five major phyla.

Key Features:

• Extensive Metabolome Reference Database: Contains untargeted LC-MS/MS mass spectral data from 153 plant species spanning five major phyla.
• LC-MS/MS Query: Facilitates detailed searches and profiling within the plant metabolome using LC-MS/MS spectra.
• RefMetaBlast: Enables querying against the reference metabolome to support comparative analyses across species.
• CompoundLibBlast: Performs spectral matching to integrated standard compound mass spectral libraries for compound identification.
• Support for Genome-Scale Metabolite Analysis: Provides a reference framework analogous to a reference genome to enable genome-scale metabolite analyses related to plant growth, development, and stress responses.

Scientific Applications:

• Metabolite Discovery: Facilitates identification of novel phytochemicals across diverse plant species using reference spectral data and library matching.
• Functional Metabolomics Studies: Enables investigation of metabolite roles in plant physiology and biochemistry, including growth, development, and stress responses.
• Comparative Metabolomics: Supports cross-species comparisons to elucidate evolutionary relationships and metabolic adaptations.
• Genome-Scale Metabolite Analysis: Provides a basis for organism-wide metabolite analyses analogous to reference-genome approaches in genomics.

Methodology:

Spectral querying via LC-MS/MS Query, database searching using RefMetaBlast, and spectral library matching using CompoundLibBlast against integrated standard compound mass spectral libraries.