What is a common method for lysing cells when extracting GFP?

The choice of sonication or chemical lysis as a common method for lysing cells when extracting GFP is correct because these techniques effectively disrupt the cell membrane, allowing for the release of intracellular proteins, including GFP.

Sonication involves using sound waves to agitate the liquid, causing cavitation that disrupts cell walls. This method can quickly break open a large volume of cells and is particularly useful for samples where gentle lysis is necessary to prevent protein denaturation while ensuring complete extraction.

Chemical lysis, on the other hand, uses specific detergents or lytic agents to solubilize cell membranes. This approach can be tailored to the specific characteristics of the cells and the proteins of interest, promoting efficient lysis while minimizing damage to the target proteins.

Together, these methods are widely employed in laboratories for the extraction of proteins because they are versatile and can be optimized for different cell types and experimental needs.