What is immunoprecipitations?

Immunoprecipitation (IP) is a technique used to isolate and purify a specific protein or a group of proteins from a complex mixture, such as a cell lysate. It involves using an antibody that specifically binds to the target protein. The antibody-protein complex is then captured using a solid support (e.g., beads), and the unwanted proteins are washed away. Finally, the target protein is eluted (released) from the antibody and can be analyzed using various techniques such as Western blotting or mass spectrometry. IP is commonly used to study protein-protein interactions, identify new protein targets, and purify proteins for downstream applications.