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The water-soluble intracellular components of cells* obtained by breaking cells open (the breaking-open process is called lysis). Once cells are lysed (broken open), their contents are typically then centrifuged (“spun down” in science slang) to pellet out the membrane gunk and other non water-soluble stuff, leaving you with a lysate containing the intracellular components.

* and/or cellular compartments depending on the technique – for example, scientists can isolate cellular nuclei and lyse those to get nuclear lysates.

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