Operational Taxon-Function Framework in MetaX: Unveiling Taxonomic and Functional Associations in Metaproteomics

We introduce MetaX, a comprehensive tool for analyzing taxon-function relationships in metaproteomics by mapping peptides to their lowest common ancestors and assigning functions based on proportional thresholds, ensuring accurate peptide-level mappings.

Importantly, MetaX introduces the Operational Taxon-Function (OTF), a new conceptual unit for exploring microbial roles and interactions within ecosystems. Additionally, MetaX includes extensive statistical and visualization tools, establishing it as a robust platform for metaproteomics analysis.

With its intuitive, user-friendly interface, MetaX facilitates a detailed study of the complex interactions between microbial taxa and their functions in metaproteomics. It enhances our understanding of microbial roles in ecosystems and health.