Workflow4Metabolomics (W4M): A User‐Friendly Metabolomics Platform for Analysis of Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data

Various spectrometric methods can be used to conduct metabolomics studies. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with separation methods, such as liquid or gas chromatography (LC and GC, respectively), are the most commonly used techniques. Once the raw data have been obtained, the real challenge lies in the bioinformatics required to conduct: (i) data processing (including preprocessing, normalization, and quality control); (ii) statistical analysis for comparative studies (such as univariate and multivariate analyses, including PCA or PLS-DA/OPLS-DA); (iii) annotation of the metabolites of interest; and (iv) interpretation of the relationships between key metabolites and the relevant phenotypes or scientific questions to be addressed. Here, we will introduce and detail a stepwise protocol for use of the Workflow4Metabolomics platform (W4M), which provides user-friendly access to workflows for processing of LC-MS, GC-MS, and NMR data. Those modular and extensible workflows are composed of existing standalone components (e.g., XCMS and CAMERA packages) as well as a suite of complementary W4M-implemented modules. This tool suite is accessible worldwide through a web interface and is hosted on UseGalaxy France. The extensible Virtual Research Environment (VRE) provided offers pre-configured workflows for metabolomics communities (platforms, end users, etc.), as well as possibilities for sharing among users. By providing a consistent ecosystem of tools and workflows through Galaxy, W4M makes it possible to process MS and NMR data from hundreds of samples using an ordinary personal computer, after step-by-step workflow optimization. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: W4M account creation, working history preparation, and data upload Support Protocol 1: How to prepare an NMR zip file Support Protocol 2: How to convert MS data from proprietary format to open format Support Protocol 3: How to get help with W4M (IFB forum) and how to report a problem on the GitHub repository Basic Protocol 2: LC-MS data processing Alternate Protocol 1: GC-MS data processing Alternate Protocol 2: NMR data processing Basic Protocol 3: Statistical analysis Basic Protocol 4: Annotation of metabolites from LC-MS data Alternate Protocol 3: Annotation of metabolites from NMR data.

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Publication Details

Journal
Current Protocols
Published
2025-02-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/cpz1.70095
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.42
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article

Workflow4Metabolomics (W4M): A User‐Friendly Metabolomics Platform for Analysis of Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data

Jana Klánová, C. Dalle, Binta Diémé, Isabelle Schmitz‐Afonso et al.
3 citations
Current Protocols
Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
2.42
article

Workflow4Metabolomics (W4M): A User‐Friendly Metabolomics Platform for Analysis of Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data

Jana Klánová, C. Dalle, Binta Diémé, Isabelle Schmitz‐Afonso, Charlotte Joly, Gildas Le Corguillé, Sylvain Déchaumet, Elliott J. Price, Florence Souard, Yann Guitton, Julien Saint‐Vanne, Helge Hecht, Etienne Thévenot, Mélanie Pétéra, Cécile Canlet, Franck Giacomoni, Cédric Delporte, Marie Tremblay‐Franco, Ralf J. M. Weber, Sylvain Chéreau
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Various spectrometric methods can be used to conduct metabolomics studies. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with separation methods, such as liquid or gas chromatography (LC and GC, respectively), are the most commonly used techniques. Once the raw data have been obtained, the real challenge lies in the bioinformatics required to conduct: (i) data processing (including preprocessing, normalization, and quality control); (ii) statistical analysis for comparative studies (such as univariate and multivariate analyses, including PCA or PLS-DA/OPLS-DA); (iii) annotation of the metabolites of interest; and (iv) interpretation of the relationships between key metabolites and the relevant phenotypes or scientific questions to be addressed. Here, we will introduce and detail a stepwise protocol for use of the Workflow4Metabolomics platform (W4M), which provides user-friendly access to workflows for processing of LC-MS, GC-MS, and NMR data. Those modular and extensible workflows are composed of existing standalone components (e.g., XCMS and CAMERA packages) as well as a suite of complementary W4M-implemented modules. This tool suite is accessible worldwide through a web interface and is hosted on UseGalaxy France. The extensible Virtual Research Environment (VRE) provided offers pre-configured workflows for metabolomics communities (platforms, end users, etc.), as well as possibilities for sharing among users. By providing a consistent ecosystem of tools and workflows through Galaxy, W4M makes it possible to process MS and NMR data from hundreds of samples using an ordinary personal computer, after step-by-step workflow optimization. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: W4M account creation, working history preparation, and data upload Support Protocol 1: How to prepare an NMR zip file Support Protocol 2: How to convert MS data from proprietary format to open format Support Protocol 3: How to get help with W4M (IFB forum) and how to report a problem on the GitHub repository Basic Protocol 2: LC-MS data processing Alternate Protocol 1: GC-MS data processing Alternate Protocol 2: NMR data processing Basic Protocol 3: Statistical analysis Basic Protocol 4: Annotation of metabolites from LC-MS data Alternate Protocol 3: Annotation of metabolites from NMR data.

Current ProtocolsVol. 5(2)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR), Inserm (FR), Institut Pascal (FR), École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (FR), Université Clermont Auvergne (FR), Masaryk University (CZ), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR), Université Paris-Saclay (FR), Station Biologique de Roscoff (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Unité de Nutrition Humaine (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Laboratoire D'étude des Résidus et Contaminants Dans les Aliments (FR), Technologies pour la Santé (FR), Toxicologie Alimentaire (FR), Centre Bretagne-Normandie (FR), Genoscope (FR), CEA Paris-Saclay (FR), MetaboHUB (FR), Institut Français de Bioinformatique (FR), Polymères, Biopolymères, Surfaces (FR), Institut de Génétique, Environnement et Protection des Plantes (FR), Oniris (FR), Université de Rouen Normandie (FR), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Rouen Normandie (FR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
2.42
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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