MRMPROBS tutorial Edited in 2014/10/6 Introduction MRMPROBS is a tool for the analysis of data from multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)- or selected reaction monitoring (SRM)-based metabolomics studies. These days more than 500 MRM transitions can be set in a second, and then up to several hundred metabolites can be simultaneously analyzed in metabolomics-, lipidomics- and proteomics research by means of large scale MRM transitions. Improvements in instrumentation have raised the importance of data analysis. For the easy handling of large MRM data sets, the software must provide: A user-friendly graphic interface for easy data curation An objective evaluation system to identify the target metabolite on complicated chromatograms To meet these requirements, we recently developed our MRMPROBS software. Since this program calculates a probabilistic score from detected peak- and user-defined library information, reliable metabolite information is extracted accurately. All data-processing workflow from data import to statistical analysis is supported. In this MRMPROBS project, we hope to obtain feedback from users to improve the identification and quantification systems as well as the user interface. Please address your comments to the link below. Thank you. Hiroshi Tsugawa RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science hiroshi.tsugawa@riken.jp MRMPROBS was developed in a collaboration between Hiroshi Tsugawa (RIKEN) and Reifycs Inc. MRMPROBS screenshot
Table of Contents Software environments... 3 Required software programs and files... 4 Downloading the ABF converter from Reifycs Inc.... 6 File conversion... 7 Reference library for MRMPORBS program (tab-delimited text format)... 8 Starting MRMPROBS... 11 Starting up your project... 12 Importing Abf files... 13 Setting parameters... 14 MRMPROBS viewer... 16 Mouse operation in the chromatogram viewer... 16 Library editor [optional]... 18 Tool button... 19 Tab... 20 Button... 21 List Box... 22 Details on the MRMPROBS function... 23 File menu... 23 Data processing menu... 24 Statistical analysis menu... 25 Missing value approach... 25 Normalization approach... 26 Window menu... 28 View menu... 29 Option menu... 30 Export menu... 31 Appendix A-1: how to obtain appropriate file conversion of the Shimadzu.lcd file.... 32 Suitable method file (.lcm)... 32 Appendix B: Third option of MRMPROBS: via mzml file.... 36
Software environments Microsoft Windows XP, -Vista, -7 or -8.NET Framework 4.0 or later
Required software programs and files Reifycs Analysis Base File Converter (ABF file converter) Download link: http://www.reifycs.com/english/abfconverter/ MRMPROBS Download link: http://prime.psc.riken.jp/metabolomics_software/mrmprobs/index.html Reference library (tab-delimited text file) Example: http://prime.psc.riken.jp/metabolomics_software/mrmprobs/index.html Demonstration files Download link: http://prime.psc.riken.jp/metabolomics_software/mrmprobs/index.html MRMPROBS can import Analysis Base File (ABF) format data. This program extracts chromatogram data together with the reference library including the name of the target metabolite, its retention-time and amplitude information, and precursor m/z and product m/z. The supported formats for ABF conversion are Shimadzu Inc. (.LCD), Agilent Technologies (.D), AB Sciex (.WIFF), and Thermo Fisher Scientific (.RAW). MRMPROBS is also acceptable to mzml format file converted by an open source file translator ProteoWizard. Although our abf converter doesn t accept Waters (.RAW) file due to the license problem yet, MRMPROBS can import Waters files via mzml. The information is described in Appendix B. Common conditions In the MRM condition-setting window of the MS vendor s software, half-width alphanumeric symbols should be used for the compound name. If the same precursor m/z and product m/z (nominal scale) are set for the same compound name in the MRM condition-setting window, problems may be encountered in the file conversion. The above criteria should be applied if the first option is used in the MRMPROBS window. MRMPROBS can extract chromatogram data from abf files based on just the precursor m/z and product m/z information ( second option ). However, it does not distinguish between identical precursor m/z and product m/z chromatogram information. Therefore, please make sure whether you are using the so-called scheduled or time-segmented MRM mode. If you use mzml file, please select the third option and see the Appendix B. This option is also acceptable to the scheduled MRM.
First option Second option Third option Note: for Shimadzu (.LCD) files LabSolutions must be installed on your computer. There are a few cases where the required DLL is not included in LabSolutions. If you cannot perform the file convert please let us know and we will send the DLL to you. The compound table of the.lcd file must include the MRM conditions of the.lcm file. How to set this is described in Appendix A-1.
Downloading the ABF converter from Reifycs Inc. 1. Go to http://www.reifycs.com/english/abfconverter/. 2. Check the requirements and license terms, and download the converter.
File conversion 1. Start AnalysisBaseFileConverter.exe. 2. Drag & drop MS vendor files into this program. 3. Click Convert. 4. The ABF files are generated in the same directory as the raw data files.
Reference library for MRMPORBS program (tab-delimited text format) Five items are required in the library file in tab-delimited format. The first header s name is flexible but the item order should be followed. If you use the third option via mzml, you have to make a slightly different library; please see the Appendix B. 1 column. Compound name a 2 column. Precursor m/z (accurate m/z information is rounded into nominal m/z information) 3 column. Product m/z 4 column. Retention time [min] 5 column. Amplitude ratios [%] b Notes
a When you use the first option of MRMPROBS, the name must be identical to the compound name in the instrument setting window. This is not necessary when using the second option, i.e. only transition key criteria. The compound name should be entered in English one-byte characters. b About the amplitude ratio format [Example: only one transition for one metabolite] Enter 100 as the value into the amplitude information, e.g. Thymine 125 42.05 5.58 100 [Example: multiple transitions for one metabolite] Enter 100 as the value for the amplitude information only for the quantification transition. MRMPROBS does not quantify the metabolite by so called TIC. Instead, only one transition in multiple transitions for one metabolite, i.e. EIC, is used for peak quantification (we call this the target transition). Enter the ratio [%] against 100 as the amplitude for the qualifier transition (or the confirmation transition). This information is used for peak identification (we call this the qualifier transition), e.g. G6P 258.9 97.05 9.21 100 G6P 258.9 79.05 9.21 30.1 G6P 258.9 199.15 9.21 5.5 Note 1: You can edit the reference library and update its information in MRMPROBS. However, an empty value is not acceptable when the library is imported. If you do not know the suitable retention time and amplitude information for the metabolites, enter arbitrary values for the metabolites. Although the target transition can also be changed in MRMPROBS, the 100 value rules should be followed. Note 2: You do not have to include all metabolite information you entered in the MS instrument. You can decide what you want to see. Note 3: Sometimes the tab-delimited file exported from Microsoft Excel includes unexpected hidden trailing columns. These unexpected columns after the Ratio column cannot be handled by MRMPROBS. You can inspect the exported file by selecting a few rows (see below). If there are selected characters after the last column (Ratio), edit the file in Excel to delete these columns and re-export it again.
Good example (no unexpected column) Bad example (there are unexpected columns)
Starting MRMPROBS 1. Starting up your project 2. Importing Abf files 3. Setting parameters 4. Running the software (1-2 min / sample) *The tutorial uses 40 demonstration files and the reference library which are downloadable from the above link. The common measurement conditions of the demonstration files were as follows. Liquid chromatography: total 25 min run per sample with CELI L-column2 ODC (150 mm 2.1 mm, 3 m). Mass spectrometer: MRM method with negative ion mode. Target metabolite number: 60 Total transitions: 166 The detail of experimental conditions is downloadable at the MRM Database section (Ion-pair LC-QqQ/MS). http://prime.psc.riken.jp/metabolomics_software/mrmdatabase/index.html
Starting up your project 1. File New project. 2. Chose a project type (select the top one for this demonstration). Note 1: If you want to extract chromatogram information based on the compound name, the precursor m/z and the product m/z from the abf file, choose the first project. If you want to extract chromatogram information based on just the transition information, choose the second project. If you want to extract chromatogram information based on the function id included in mzml, choose the third project. Please see the Appendix B. Note 2: The concept of MRMPROBS is one target metabolite in one EIC chromatogram. Therefore, if you want to quantify several metabolites in the same EIC chromatogram, choose the second or third MRMPROBS project. However, the second project cannot distinguish between the same transition information. Therefore, selecting the third option is better for the purpose.
Importing Abf files Note: We recommend that the project folder be made for each batch experiment. In the MRMPROBS project, two folders (raw, processed) and one file (*.mth) are generated. They should be included in the same directory. The file name should be entered in half-width alphanumeric symbols. Select the file type of each file from Sample, Standard, and QC. QC is required for the LOESS-based normalization method. Decide the class ID used for the color labels. The analytical order and class ID can be changed after data processing.
Setting parameters Select ExampleLibrary.txt and set the above parameters for this demonstration. Note: If you want to edit or update the retention time and amplitudes of metabolites in your reference library from an example file such as a QC or standard mixture, check create new library" and choose the file name to which you want to refer. In this demonstration, 20_STD10uM_02 is selected. [Recommended] Peak detection Smoothing method: linear weighted moving average. Smoothing level: 1-2 Minimum peak width: 3-5 Minimum peak height: 50-100
Peak identification Retention time tolerance: As long as the reverse phase or hydrophilic interaction chromatography LC are used, 0.1-0.2 min is recommended. Amplitude tolerance: 15 Minimum posterior: Decide the minimum probability for peak identification. MRMPROBS calculates a probability for a peak, i.e. probability of true target metabolite given the calculated scores. The detected peak less than this criterion is recognized as a false peak. The recommended value is 50-70. Note: The first data processing including file import, peak detection, and peak identification requires 5-20 seconds (depending on machine specifications) per file.
MRMPROBS viewer Mouse operation in the chromatogram viewer Main window 2 4 1 3 View mode 1. Chromatogram window: drag holding left click chromatogram scroll, drag holding right click chromatogram zoom.
2. Detected window: left double-click the reverse triangle change the true peak, right double-click anywhere un-checked detected peaks. 3. Retention time window: drag holding right click warping on retention time range. 4. Intensity window: drag holding right click warping on intensity range. Edit mode 1. Left click and drag on the peak edge [red square] change the location of the peak edge. 2. Right click and drag detect new peak.
Library editor [optional] You can update the retention time and amplitude ratio of each metabolite by means of the QC sample file or the standard mixture file. You can also change the target transition for peak quantification. The default identification is based on the highest peak in the EIC chromatogram. If you need to change the true peak, double click the reverse triangle. If you change the target transition, select the target MRM transition from the Target MRM combo box. The right-column information including the compound name, target MRM, RT, and amplitude ratios are generated by double-clicking the compound name in the list box on the left or by re-selecting the true peak in the EIC chromatogram viewer. If the object metabolite is not detected, click the View button at the top left and switch to Edit mode. In the Edit mode, hold the right mouse click and drag the peak area you want to detect. If you want to change the retention time or amplitude information manually, just type what you want in the textbox and click the Update button on the top right. If you want to save the updated library, click the Save button on the top left side. Lastly, after editing the reference library, click the Finish button on the top left side. Note: The details and the operation method for chromatogram viewer are described later.
Tool button File: start new project, open existing project, save as a project, and save the project. Data processing: for data re-processing per file, per metabolite, or in all data sets. Statistical analysis: data normalization and statistical analysis. Window: tile setting of chromatogram viewer. View: sorting of chromatogram viewer. Option: re-define class ID and analytical order, choose the internal standard, decide include or exclude data for statistical analysis. Identification: non-meaningful in MRMPROBS project Export: The result is exported in tab-delimited text format. Help: show version information.
Tab Chromatogram: All data manipulation tasks are performed here. Raw data matrix: The peak quantification value of each file and each metabolite is shown here. Processed data matrix: The normalized value of each file and each metabolite is shown here. Statistical result: The result of statistical analysis is shown here. Raw data matrix
Button Reset: Reset the display range of chromatograms. View: If you push this View button, the chromatogram viewer is changed to Edit mode. In the Edit mode you can modify the peak edge and detect new peaks manually None: The properties of detected peaks are shown in this ComboBox. You can confirm the total score (probability), rt similarity, area value, and reference RT in the chromatogram viewer. Height: You can set the quantification mode. The default is set by peak height. Instead, you can change it to area mode. By using the All option, the quantification mode is reflected = implemented in all files and all metabolites. Processed: You can see raw chromatograms as well as smoothed chromatograms.
List Box If you double-click a metabolite name or a file name, the chromatograms are generated in the chromatogram viewer.
Details on the MRMPROBS function File menu New project: used for creating a new project. Open project: used for opening an existing project. Make sure that *.mth file, raw folder, and processed folder are included in the same directory. Save as: use to save as a new file. Save: use to overwrite an existing project.
Data processing menu Data re-processing can be done by newly optimized parameters in this option. Re-processing is also performed per metabolite or per file. The target MRM can also be changed. The parameters are set per metabolite and per file. The required time for data re-processing is very short because file import has been performed already.
Statistical analysis menu The current program can apply two types of missing value approaches and can normalize a quantification value by the internal standard and loess/cubic spline with the analytical order information. If you want to use the internal standard, you must set the optimal setting in the Option menu. The current program can also do principal component analysis. Missing value approach Zero value: This option gives zero (0) for N.D. in the raw data matrix. Data point value of retention time average: This option gives the value described below for N.D. in the raw data matrix. 1. The process is performed per column, i.e. per metabolite. 2. If the value of a metabolite is N.D. in all files, a zero (0) value is assigned. 3. The retention time values except for N.D. files are stored and the average value is calculated. 4. For each N.D., the intensity of data point consistency with the average retention time of the processed EIC chromatogram (after smoothing) is assigned as the quantification value.
Normalization approach None: after implementation of the missing value approach, the values of the raw data matrix are stored in the processed data matrix. Internal standard: after implementation of the missing value approach, the value divided by the internal standard value set in the Option menu is stored in the processed data matrix. LOESS: after implementation of the missing value approach, the signal intensities of each metabolite are normalized with the QC samples information by means of loess/cubic spline. Internal standard + LOESS: After internal standard normalization, loess/cubic spline based normalization is performed. After clicking the Done button, the Statistical analysis setting button is activated. You can do principal component analysis. Add the calculated number of the principal components and choose the scale and transform method.
Zooming in and out can be done with the mouse wheel. Each principal component is shown by selecting the X axis or the Y axis combobox.
Window menu The tile setting is possible depending on your computer's resolution. Please select your preference.
View menu In this menu the chromatograms in the chromatogram viewer are sorted by file id, analytical order, class id, and file type.
Option menu Here it is possible to set the properties of metabolites and files. In particular, this option menu is used to create a data matrix for statistical analysis. In the file properties you can re-set the file type, class ID, and analytical order except for the file name. If you clear the check box of the included property it is no longer included in the processed data matrix. In the metabolite properties you can set the internal standard. It can be set independently for each metabolite. However, please make sure that the metabolite name of the internal standard is completely consistent with the metabolite name in the internal standard column. Therefore, we recommend that you use copy and paste for the internal standard setting. In this window, although copy and paste can be performed just by using the keyboard, you can do multi copy. For example, copy a metabolite name by pushing Ctrl + C. Select the rows you want to add in the internal standard column by dragging and paste the clipboard contents by pushing Ctrl + V.
Export menu A tab-delimited text file can be exported for a raw data matrix, a processed data matrix, the updated library, detected peak information detail, and PCA results. Moreover, the PCA result can be exported by some image formats.
Appendix A-1: how to obtain appropriate file conversion of the Shimadzu.lcd file. Suitable method file (.lcm) Although you can do a content change of the.lcd file after LC-QqQ/MS (MRM) analysis, it is very useful to construct a suitable method file (.lcm format file) for the successful file convert of the MRMPROBS software. 1. Event name and channel (MRM transitions) rule. For stable convert of Reifycs file convert software, the compound name should be made just by ASCII format. MRM transitions should be constructed for one metabolite. The completely same precursor and product m/z pair cannot be acceptable in the file converter. 2. Update compound table After the method construction of MRM transitions, you should update the compound table m/z by the MRM event. If you can analyze the samples by using the updated method file, you do not have to perform any other tasks for the stable file convert.
You can check the updated table by Method->Data Processing Parameters->Compound tab.
3. If your data (.lcd) were not collected by a suitable method described above, you can improve the.lcd file by using the method file modified in the above way. After the construction of the modified method file, please open Postrun Analysis of LabSolutions. After selecting the analysis files (.lcd) push the Apply to Method button. Select the modified method file and improve your.lcd file including the compound table m/z. If you can do this, the file (.lcd) is successfully converted by Reifycs Inc. software.
Reifycs Inc. software refers to this compound table for the file convert from.lcd file to.abf file. 4.File convert Conditions: You can convert from.lcd files to.abf files on your computer by installing LabSolutions software. TTFLDataExportVer5.dll of LabSolutions ver. 5.53 SP4 or later is required for the file convert. Check the TTFLDataExportVer5.dll (Program Files (or *86)>LabSolutions) file property. If the file size is less than 577,536 bytes, contact Shimadzu Inc. for a file change. After AnalysisBaseFileConverter.exe is opened, drag and drop the.lcd files to this converter. Push the Convert button. The ABF format files will be generated in the same folder as the.lcd files.
Appendix B: Third option of MRMPROBS: via mzml file. Required software and file MSConvert Download link: http://proteowizard.sourceforge.net/ MRMPROBS Download link: http://prime.psc.riken.jp/metabolomics_software/mrmprobs/index.html Reference library for compound identification (tab-delimited text file) MRMPROBS can import the mzml format file. In the third option of MRMPROBS, the function id is utilized to extract the chromatogram data. The users should add the function id information to the reference library in addition to the normal library format. Download ProteoWizard 1. Select download type: Windows installer (includes vendor reader support) is recommended. 2. Read license agreements and download the proteowizard. (http://proteowizard.sourceforge.net/downloads.shtml) Setup ProteoWizard 1. Follow the wizard windows. (Maybe you don t miss it.) 2. SeeMS should be also imported.
Convert the vendor s MS file to mzml via ProteoWizard 1. Open the MSConvertGUI.exe. 2. Select List of Files. 3. Select the vendor s file via Browse button. 4. In the Options, never check any additional compression including Use numpress linear compression, Use numpress short logged float compression, and Use numpress short positive integer compression. Each of binary encoding precision is available. 5. Click Start button. Note! ProteoWizard does nt support Shimadzu MS format. If you want to use them, please use the abf converter.
Reference library for compound identification Six items are required in the library file in tab-delimited text format. The first header s name is flexible but the item order should be followed. (Here, in order easily to see the library, I put the library in the Microsoft Excel.) 1 column. Compound name a 2 column. Function ID b 3 column. Precursor m/z (accurate m/z information is rounded into nominal m/z information) 4 column. Product m/z 5 column. Retention time [min] 6 column. Amplitude ratios [%] c Notes a When you use the third option of MRMPROBS, the name doesn t have to be identical to the compound name in the instrument setting window. The compound name should be entered in English one-byte characters. b The function ID is the most important ID to use the third option of MRMPROBS. In the mzml data, there is a markup indicating a Function ID which is unambiguous key to contact to the specific MRM chromatogram for the retention time range, the precursor ion, and product ion. In order to easily to see the relationship between the function ID and the MRM information, use the SeeMS which is also downloadable with ProteoWizard. 1. Open SeeMS.
2. Select a mzml file. To find the identical function ID in your data, use the Microsoft Excel sorting function and your experiment condition file. In the most of case, the proteowizard is sorting the functions following the order to 1. Precursor Ion, 2. Product Ion, 3. Retention time starting point. c About the amplitude ratio format [Example: only one transition for one metabolite] Enter 100 as the value into the amplitude information, e.g. Thymine 125 42.05 5.58 100 [Example: multiple transitions for one metabolite] Enter 100 as the value for the amplitude information only for the quantification transition. MRMPROBS does not quantify the metabolite by so called TIC. Instead, only one transition in multiple transitions for one metabolite, i.e. EIC, is used for peak quantification (we call this the target transition). Enter the ratio [%] against 100 as the amplitude for the qualifier transition (or the confirmation transition). This information is used for peak identification (we call this the qualifier transition), e.g. G6P 258.9 97.05 9.21 100 G6P 258.9 79.05 9.21 30.1 G6P 258.9 199.15 9.21 5.5
You can edit the reference library and update its information in MRMPROBS. However, an empty value is not acceptable when the library is imported. If you do not know the suitable retention time and amplitude information for the metabolites, enter arbitrary values for the metabolites. Although the target transition can also be changed in MRMPROBS, the 100 value rules should be followed. You do not have to include all metabolite information you entered in the MS instrument. You can decide what you want to see.