Integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics profiles

Abstract

Background: Integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics data has the potential greatly to increase our understanding of metabolic networks and biological systems leading to various potential clinical applications.

Objective: The aim is to present different applications as well as analysis tools utilized for the parallel study of gene and metabolite expressions.

Methods: Publications dealing with integrated analysis of gene and metabolite expression data as well as publications describing tools that can be used for integrated analysis are reviewed.

Results/conclusion: The full benefit of integrated analysis can be achieved only if data from all utilized methods are treated equally by multidisciplinary teams. This approach can lead to advances in functional genomics with possible clinical developments in diagnostics and improved drug target selection.