How does chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) work?

Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) combines chromatin immunoprecipitation with next-generation sequencing. This technique allows researchers to determine DNA binding sites for specific proteins on a genome. 

To perform ChIP-Seq, DNA-protein complexes are cross-linked by formaldehyde treatment. Chromatin is separated from cells or tissues and immunoprecipitated with antibody-bound magnetic beads. The immunoprecipitated DNA is extracted and used in a next-generation sequencing protocol, where it is sequenced and analyzed for DNA binding sites. 

Chip-Seq is useful for several applications, two of the most notable of which are profiling of breast cancer tumors and identification of key genes in prostate cancer.