Characteristics of Tris buffer

Tris buffer, namely Tris buffer, is usually prepared with hydrocloric acid to adjust the pH value to prepare buffers, and some are adjusted with other acids such as acetic acid, boric acid, glycine, and many other types of buffers such as Bicine, MOPS, HEPES, CAPS, etc. all use sodium hydroxide lye to adjust pH, which is the unique feature of Tris buffer.

Basic properties of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane

Tris has a pKa of 8.1 at room temperature (25C); according to the buffer theory, the effective buffering range of Tris buffer is between pH 7.0 and 9.2. The pH of Tris aqueous solution is around 10.5, and hydrocloric acid is generally added to adjust the pH to the desired value. The pH value of the buffer can be obtained if the value is required. The pKa of Tris is greatly affected by temperature, which will cause the pH value to change, so you need to pay attention to the effect of temperature.

Features of Tris buffer

Tris is a weak base, and the aqueous solution is alkaline, so hydrocloric acid is used to adjust the buffer instead of sodium hydroxide. Tris contains an amino group in its molecular structure, which can undergo condensation reaction with aldehydes. Therefore, in systems containing aldehydes, the use of Tris buffers may be affected.

Tris buffer is suitable for nucleic acid related experiments

The Tris buffer is usually neutral and slightly alkaline, and DNA nucleic acid molecules in such a solution will be deprotonated, thereby increasing the solubility. Therefore, Tris can be used as a good solvent for nucleic acids (also suitable as a solvent for proteins). In nucleic acid-related experiments, Tris is preferred as a buffer. EDTA is often added to Tris hydrocloride buffer to make TE buffer, which can inhibit nuclease, inhibit nucleic acid degradation, and improve nucleic acid stability. Acetic acid or boric acid is often used instead of hydrocloric acid in running buffers, such as TAE buffer and TBE buffer used in nucleic acid electrophoresis experiments.

In addition to nucleic acid-related experiments, Tris is also often used in protein-related experiments, such as protein growth experiments under different pH conditions using Tris as a buffer. Because the Tris buffer does not contain metal ions and has low ionic strength, it can also be used for the formation of the intermediate fibers of the nematode nuclear laminin. Desheng is a buffering agent manufacturer, which can provide Tris above ton level.