A lysis buffer is a buffer solution

Buffer solution

A buffer solution is an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. It has the property that the pH of the solution changes very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it. Buffer solutions are used as a...

 used for the purpose of lysing

Lysis

Lysis refers to the breaking down of a cell, often by viral, enzymic, or osmotic mechanisms that compromise its integrity. A fluid containing the contents of lysed cells is called a "lysate"....

 cells for use in molecular biology

Molecular biology

Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...

 experiments that analyze the compounds of the cells (e.g. western blot

Western blot

The western blot is a widely used analytical technique used to detect specific proteins in the given sample of tissue homogenate or extract. It uses gel electrophoresis to separate native proteins by 3-D structure or denatured proteins by the length of the polypeptide...

). There are many different kind of lysis buffer that one can apply, depending on what analysis the cell lysate will be used for e.g. red blood cell lysis buffer. Generally, lysis buffers contain tris-HCl, EDTA

EDTA

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, widely abbreviated as EDTA , is a polyamino carboxylic acid and a colourless, water-soluble solid. Its conjugate base is named ethylenediaminetetraacetate. It is widely used to dissolve limescale. Its usefulness arises because of its role as a hexadentate ligand...

, EGTA

EGTA (chemical)

EGTA is a polyamino carboxylic acid, a chelating agent that is related to the better known EDTA, but with a much higher affinity for calcium than for magnesium ions...

, SDS

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Sodium dodecyl sulfate , sodium laurilsulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate is an organic compound with the formula CH311OSO3Na). It is an anionic surfactant used in many cleaning and hygiene products...

, deoxycholate, tritonX and/or NP-40

NP-40

NP-40 is a commercially available detergent. The full name of NP-40 is Tergitol-type NP-40, which is nonyl phenoxypolyethoxylethanol.Care should be taken to avoid confusing NP-40 with Nonidet P-40 ....

. In some cases the buffer may also contain NaCl(150 mM).

In studies like DNA fingerprinting the lysis buffer is used for DNA isolation. Dish soap can be used in a pinch to break down the cell and nuclear membranes, allowing the DNA to be released. Other such lysis buffers include the proprietary Qiagen

Qiagen

Qiagen is a provider of sample and assay technologies for molecular diagnostics, applied testing, academic and pharmaceutical research. Consolidated under the Dutch holding Qiagen N.V., the company operates more than 30 subsidiaries in over 18 countries. Qiagen’s shares are listed at the...

 product Buffer P2

Buffer P2

Buffer P2 is a lysis buffer solution produced by Qiagen. It contains sodium dodecyl sulfate to puncture holes in cellular membranes. It is used in conjunction with other resuspension buffers and lysis buffers to release DNA from cells....

.