What method is often used to analyze the compounds produced during metabolism?

The method commonly used to analyze the compounds produced during metabolism is chromatography. This technique is particularly valuable in separating and analyzing the complex mixtures of metabolites because it allows for the identification and quantification of various compounds based on their differing affinities for stationary and mobile phases. Chromatography can effectively separate metabolites from each other, making it easier to study each compound in detail.

In metabolic studies, researchers often utilize various types of chromatography, such as gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC), to analyze the metabolic products. This analysis can reveal important information about metabolic pathways, help identify biomarkers, and assess the physiological state of cells or organisms.

Other methods listed, such as RNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serve different purposes. RNA sequencing focuses on the expression levels of genes, mass spectrometry is widely used for determining the mass and structure of compounds (though it can also be employed in metabolomics), and PCR is utilized for amplifying DNA. Each of these techniques has its unique advantages in molecular biology and biochemistry, but for the specific task of analyzing metabolic compounds, chromatography is the preferred method due to its ability to effectively separate and analyze complex mixtures.