General description
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.[1] It
also stabilizes nucleic acids against enzymatic degradation.[2]
Application
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).[3]
Legal Information
CALBIOCHEM is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt, Germany
Disclaimer
Toxicity: Irritant (B)
