Preparation Tris-Borate-EDTA Buffer
This guide describes the preparation of Tris-Borate-EDTA Buffer at a defined molarity for laboratory use.
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Tris-Borate-EDTA (TBE) buffer is a commonly used electrophoresis buffer for nucleic acid analysis, especially suitable for the separation of small DNA fragments.
Tris-Borate-EDTA (TBE) Buffer – 1X Working Solution Composition
| Name | Formula | Concentration (1X) | CAS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tris base | C₄H₁₁NO₃ | 89 mM | 77-86-1 |
| Borate | H₃BO₃ | 89 mM | 10043-35-3 |
| EDTA | C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₈ | 2 mM | 60-00-4 |
Applications of Tris-Borate-EDTA (TBE) Buffer
TBE buffer is widely used for agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA. Compared with TAE buffer, TBE provides higher buffering capacity and more stable pH during long electrophoresis runs. It offers better resolution for small DNA fragments and is commonly used in DNA sizing, restriction fragment analysis, and high-resolution electrophoresis applications.
Preparation Tips, Sterilization, and Storage
- The use of EDTA solution or EDTA·2Na·2H₂O is recommended.
- Some studies have shown that buffers prepared with EDTA (free acid) generate less heat during electrophoresis, but require longer preparation time.
- EDTA (free acid) is extremely difficult to dissolve. It is recommended to prepare an EDTA stock solution first.
- If a small amount of precipitate forms, it can be redissolved by placing the solution in a 37°C water bath and does not affect use. If precipitate remains after water bath treatment, discard the solution.
- Sterilization: usually not required; select as needed.
- Storage: room temperature.
