Posted on behalf of Alison Abbott

The journal Science has asked authors to retract their controversial 2009 paper (A. Beloqui et al, Science 326, 252–257; 2009) which claimed to have created a ‘reactome’ chip able to analyse all enzymes in biological preparations, such as bacterial extracts.

Some organic chemists had challenged its claim and an investigation in Spain last month recommended retraction (see Nature, 466, 540-541; 2010).

Manuel Ferrer from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)’s Institute of Catalysis and Petroleochemistry in Madrid, a lead author of the paper, says he and his colleagues will discuss whether to retract. But he points out that during the investigation, five blind experiments on extracts of different bacterial communities were analysed in five different independent laboratories and, he says, showed the technology functioned well. In case of retraction, adds Ferrer, he and his colleagues will publish a detailed paper showing the chemistry is correct.