Immunoprecipitation Application Guide

How immunoprecipitation works

An antibody captures its antigen from lysate and the immune complex is recovered using a suitable support such as protein A/G agarose or magnetic beads. Co-immunoprecipitation can be used to investigate associated proteins when interactions are preserved.

1. Prepare an application-appropriate lysate.
2. Select an antibody with evidence for IP and a compatible capture matrix.
3. Bind and capture the target or complex.
4. Wash, elute and analyse using western blot, mass spectrometry or another downstream method.

Experimental planning and controls

Include suitable input, negative-control and, where appropriate, isotype or bead-only controls. Lysis conditions should preserve the biology needed for the experiment without creating excessive non-specific binding. Antibodies validated for western blot are not automatically suitable for IP.