Tris Base solution (CAS 77-86-1)

Tris base solution, often referred to simply as Tris (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), is a cornerstone buffering agent in molecular biology, biochemistry, and other life science research fields. Its primary utility is rooted in its ability to maintain a stable pH environment, crucial for numerous biological processes and experimental conditions. The buffering range of Tris is typically between pH 7.0 and 9.0, making it ideal for use in biological systems that operate near neutral pH. Tris buffers are favored because of their minimal interference with biochemical reactions and low metal ion reactivity. This makes them suitable for sensitive applications such as protein and nucleic acid isolation, where maintaining the integrity of the biomolecules is essential. In research, Tris is extensively used in the preparation of electrophoresis buffers. It provides the necessary ionic strength and maintains the pH stability during gel electrophoresis, crucial for the accurate separation of nucleic acids and proteins based on their size and charge. This is vital for methods like SDS-PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis, which are fundamental for analyzing protein purity and DNA fragments, respectively.