Analysis of metabolomics data from radiation in nonhuman primate serum

Samantha Shen

Mentors: Dr. Amrita Cheema, Department of Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Metabolomics Shared Resource, and Dr. and Yaoxiang Li, Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics & Biomathematics, Georgetown University Medical Center

Date/Time: August 25, 2020 at 1pm

Abstract: The purpose of this project is to identify metabolites and biomarkers to distinguish irradiated samples from non-irradiated samples. Serum samples are processed via UPLC. Data is pre-processed using data conversion tools, R packages IPO and XCMS, and normalization tools. QC-RLSC normalization is performed to account for instrument drift. Data analysis visualization tools including principal component analysis, heatmap, volcano plots, and more are used to analyze metabolites. The pathway analysis of metabolites in samples that received radiation linked metabolites together and indicate that c21 steroid hormones and the carnitine shuttle are affected by radiation. R script code was written to match and organize pathway analysis and validated metabolites. The metabolites that are significantly changed between radiation and non-radiation samples are used as biomarkers for distinguishing samples that are treated with radiation.