Tris-Borate-EDTA buffer

Tris-Borate-EDTA (TBE) buffer is a commonly used running buffer for nucleic gel electrophoresis with a pH range from 8.1-8.5 (25 °C). TBE buffer has a higher buffer capacity than TAE buffer and has a higher resolution for DNA fragments <1500 bp. Borate in TBE buffer acts as an enzyme inhibitor.

Suitable as a running and gel preparation buffer in:

• DNA agarose gel electrophoresis (fragment <1500 bp)
• Native and non-denaturing RNA agarose gel electrophoresis (fragment <1500 bp)
• Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis
• Northern and Southern blotting
• DNA automated sequencing gel
• Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) (applied voltages of less than 5 V/cm are recommended for maximum resolution)

TBE running buffer is the most commonly used buffer for DNA and RNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. TBE is used with non-denaturing or denaturing (7 M urea) gels. It is also routinely used for DNA automated sequencing gel. TBE can also be used for agarose gels but is not recommended for preparative gels for recovery of nucleic acids.
Dilution of the TBE stock concentrates to a 1× TBE running buffer results in a buffer containing 89 mM Tris-borate and 2 mM EDTA, pH 8.3. The 5× or 10× stocks may also be added to an acrylamide/bis-acrylamide stock solution for making the PAGE gel. Applied voltages of less than 5 V/cm (distance between the electrodes of the unit) are recommended for maximum resolution.

Foil pouches

Prepared with Biotechnology Performance Certified Trizma base (Product Code T6066) and Molecular Biology Reagents boric acid (Product Code B6768) and EDTA disodium salt (Product Code E5134).

Contents of one pouch, when dissolved in 500mL of distilled or deionized water, will yield a 1X solution containing 89mM Tris-Borate, 2mM EDTA, pH 8.3 at 25 °C. Certified to be DNAse, RNAse, Protease, and Nickase free. Certified for use in electrophoresis. Recommended temperature for dissolution 5 °C to 40 °C.

Store at room temperature. Product may naturally agglomerate but can be simply broken up within the pouch prior to use.

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