lysedcell

Lysed cells are cells that have undergone lysis, a process where the cell membrane ruptures, releasing the cell's contents into the surrounding environment. This can occur naturally due to various biological mechanisms or be induced artificially in a laboratory setting.

In biological systems, cell lysis can be a part of normal cellular processes. For example, during apoptosis, programmed cell death, cells can lyse as a controlled mechanism to remove damaged or unwanted cells. Some immune cells, like cytotoxic T lymphocytes, can induce lysis in target cells to eliminate infected or cancerous cells. Certain pathogens, such as some viruses and bacteria, can also cause host cells to lyse as part of their infection cycle.

In laboratory research, cell lysis is a common technique used to access intracellular components for analysis. This can be achieved through physical methods like sonication, grinding, or freeze-thawing, or through chemical methods using detergents or lysis buffers. These methods disrupt the cell membrane, allowing for the extraction of proteins, nucleic acids, or other molecules of interest. Understanding cell lysis is crucial for various fields, including molecular biology, biochemistry, and medical diagnostics.