TBE Buffer, 10X, Molecular Biology Grade

A 10X concentrate that can be diluted to a 1X solution containing 89 mM Tris, 89 mM boric acid, 2 mM EDTA, pH ~8.3.

Tris, borate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (TBE) buffer is used to perform agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA and RNA. It consists of a weak acid that exists in neutral and anionic forms (e.g., COOH and COO^- species). Tris is a weak base, which occurs in either neutral or cationic forms (Tris-NH₂ and Tris-NH₃⁺). These ions maintain a low conductivity medium, transmit the electrical current, and buffer the pH. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) although not essential is added as a preventative since it chelates Mg²⁺ ions and inactivates potential DNA nucleases. TBE allows an effective resolution of DNA fragments and slightly improves the separation of smaller fragments. It also stabilizes nucleic acids against enzymatic degradation.

TBE Buffer, 10X, Molecular Biology Grade-Calbiochem has been used as a component of polyacrylamide sequencing gels for DNA electrophoresis using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP).

Toxicity: Irritant (B)

CALBIOCHEM is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany