lízis

Lízis is the process by which cells, tissues, or cellular components are broken down, often resulting in the rupture of membranes and the release of intracellular contents. In biology and medicine, lysis describes the disruption of a cell or its wall, whether by physical forces, chemical agents, or biological agents. The term derives from the Greek lysis, meaning to loosen or break apart. In Hungarian scientific usage, lízis covers the same concepts as the English term lysis.

Several mechanisms can cause lysis. Osmotic lysis occurs when cells are placed in a hypotonic environment and take up water until they burst. Lytic enzymes, such as lysozyme, degrade structural components of the cell wall and trigger rupture in susceptible organisms. Viral lysis arises at the end of the lytic cycle, when progeny virions accumulate and enzymes or osmotic pressure rupture the host cell. The immune system can also induce lysis of targets via the complement pathway or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, leading to membrane disruption. Laboratory methods to induce lysis include physical disruption (sonication, homogenization), chemical detergents (SDS, Triton X-100), and osmotic shock; enzymatic lysis is also used for extracting nucleic acids and proteins.

Applications and implications. Hemolysis refers to the rupture of red blood cells and is a diagnostic concern when samples are damaged. Lysis buffers are used to break cells and release biomolecules for analysis, such as DNA extraction. Lysis is also a key concept in virology and microbiology, distinguishing lytic from non-lytic processes and helping interpret experiments and clinical results.