Lipase activity in lipidomics - a hidden problem?

A perennial problem in ‘omics’ studies, is ensuring that the molecular profile produced is a true representation of that in the system from which it comes. Scientists working in the field of proteomics, still the most advanced ‘omics’ discipline, have for some time recognized the potential of proteases to interfere with the results they obtain (Lopez-Otin and Overall 2002). This remains prescient with the advent of quantitative proteomics. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that protease inhibitors have been standard in proteomics research for some years and that for much of this time, convenient catch-all small-molecule inhibitor packages have been commercially available.