immunoprecipitálás

Immunoprecipitation is a laboratory technique used to isolate a specific protein or antigen from a complex mixture, such as a cell lysate or tissue extract. It relies on the highly specific binding of an antibody to its target antigen. The process begins with incubating the sample containing the antigen with a specific antibody. This antibody is usually immobilized on a solid support, such as magnetic beads or agarose beads, to facilitate separation.

Once the antibody-antigen complex has formed, the beads or solid support are collected, typically by centrifugation or magnetic separation. The unbound components of the mixture are then washed away, leaving only the antibody-bound target antigen attached to the support. Finally, the bound antigen is eluted from the antibody, often by changing the pH or using a denaturing agent, allowing for its subsequent analysis.

Immunoprecipitation is a versatile technique used in various research applications. It can be employed to detect the presence of a specific protein, quantify its amount, study protein-protein interactions (co-immunoprecipitation), or purify a protein for further characterization. The choice of antibody is crucial for the success of the experiment, as it must be highly specific and have a strong binding affinity for the target antigen.