IMMUNOPRECIPITATIONS Meaning and
Definition
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Immunoprecipitation is a laboratory technique used to isolate and purify a specific protein or complex from a mixture of proteins. It involves the formation of an antigen-antibody complex, followed by the precipitation of the complex using a secondary antibody coupled to a solid support.
In immunoprecipitation, a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the target protein is mixed with the protein sample. The antibody binds to the target protein, forming an immune complex. To facilitate the isolation of this complex, a secondary antibody is added, which recognizes and binds to the primary antibody. This secondary antibody is conjugated to a solid support, such as magnetic beads or agarose resin.
After the formation of the immune complex, the mixture is subjected to a series of washes to remove any non-specific proteins. Finally, the immune complex is eluted from the solid support, enabling the recovery of the target protein.
Immunoprecipitation allows for the characterization of protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, and protein complex composition. It is a crucial tool in many fields of biological research, including immunology, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
Overall, immunoprecipitation provides a means to selectively isolate and study a specific protein or protein complex, thereby facilitating the understanding of protein function and cellular processes.
Common Misspellings for IMMUNOPRECIPITATIONS
- ummunoprecipitations
- jmmunoprecipitations
- kmmunoprecipitations
- ommunoprecipitations
- 9mmunoprecipitations
- 8mmunoprecipitations
- inmunoprecipitations
- ikmunoprecipitations
- ijmunoprecipitations
- imnunoprecipitations
- imkunoprecipitations
- imjunoprecipitations
- immynoprecipitations
- immhnoprecipitations
- immjnoprecipitations
- imminoprecipitations
- imm8noprecipitations
- imm7noprecipitations
- immuboprecipitations
- immumoprecipitations
Etymology of IMMUNOPRECIPITATIONS
The word "immunoprecipitations" is a scientific term composed of two main parts: "immuno-" and "precipitation".
1. "Immuno-" is derived from the Latin word "immunis", which means "exempt" or "free". In a medical context, "immuno-" has come to mean "protection" or "defense", referring to the immune system's role in defending the body against pathogens.
2. "Precipitation" comes from the Latin word "praecipitatio", which means "falling down" or "throwing down". In the scientific context, precipitation refers to the process of causing substances to form solid particles and settle out from a solution.
So, "immunoprecipitations" combines these two elements to describe a laboratory technique where an antibody is used to facilitate the formation and subsequent removal of immune complexes from a solution.
