Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation

5.3.2.1. Tissue preparation

5.2.3.1. Tissue preparation

Solid tissues are first broken down mechanically using a blender or homogenizer or by sonication. Buffers are employed to lysis the cells and to solubilize the proteins. Protease and phosphatase inhibitors are often added to prevent the digestion of the sample by its own enzymes. Tissue preparation is done at cold temperatures to avoid protein denaturing. Filtration or centrifugation can be used to separate different cell compartments and organelles .