CLIPPER: an add-on to the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline for the automated analysis of TAILS N-terminomics data

Data analysis in proteomics is complex and with the extra challenges involved in the interpretation of data from N-terminomics experiments, this can be daunting. Therefore, we have devised a rational pipeline of steps to approach N-terminomics data analysis in a statistically-based and valid manner. We have automated these steps in CLIPPER, an add-on to the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline (TPP). Applying CLIPPER to the analysis of N-terminomics data generated by terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS) enables high confidence peptide to protein assignment, protein N-terminal characterization and annotation, and for protease analysis readily allows protease substrate discovery with high confidence.