A cross-reactivity between animal and plant lipases was determined, using immunological techniques. It was shown by ELISA and dot-blotting that these antibodies react with lipases in the rapeseed crude extract and in the different cellular fractions obtained by differential centrifugation. Pre-incubation of the antiserum with the rapeseed crude extract affects the amount of antibodies binding to the porcine pancreatic lipase. Antibodies were able to precipitate lipase activity from 3-day-old rapeseed crude extract. These epitopes seem to be located in the catalytic site, suggesting that a consensus sequence exists in oleaginous lipases and that it will be universal.