Lysis (;
Greek λύσις
lýsis, "a loosing" from λύειν
lýein, "to unbind") refers to the breaking down of the
membrane 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. In
molecular biology,
biochemistry, and
cell biology laboratories,
cell cultures may be subjected to lysis in the process of purifying their components, as in
protein purification,
DNA extraction,
RNA extraction, or in purifying
organelles.