What is nonidet-p40?

Nonidet P-40, also known as NP-40, is a non-ionic surfactant commonly used in biochemistry and molecular biology experiments. It is a type of detergent that is highly soluble in water and has a low toxicity. NP-40 is used to solubilize membrane proteins and other hydrophobic molecules, and to disrupt cell membranes for the isolation of intracellular components. It is usually added to lysis buffers to aid in the break-down of cell membranes and the release of cellular components. NP-40 also has the ability to reduce protein aggregation, which ensures better experimental precision in downstream applications. However, its application can elicit undesirable effects on certain cellular processes, and should be used judiciously.