Merck, T5941-1KG, Trizma® hydrochloride

Tris HCl, also known as Trizma® hydrochloride, is a widely used acidic buffer for preparing buffers within the physiological pH range of 7.3 to 7.5. With a pKa of 8.08 at 25°C, Tris HCl offers a pH range of 7.0 to 9.0, matching the typical pH of living organisms. As a result, Tris HCl is an essential component of buffer solutions used in various biological, cell culture, biochemistry, and molecular biology applications. It is important to note that neither Tris base nor Tris hydrochloride on their own can provide sufficient buffering capacity. Therefore, they are typically combined to create a buffer within the pH range of 7 to 9, ensuring effective pH control. Tris buffers are indispensable in techniques like protein electrophoresis and western blotting. In many western blot protocols, a low ionic strength Tris buffer is employed for protein transfer. The transfer duration depends on the blotting apparatus and the size range of peptides under investigation. Tris-based buffers are also commonly used in SDS-PAGE gels, running buffers, and blotting buffers. Furthermore, Tris salts find extensive use in DNA agarose electrophoresis, particularly in the preparation of buffers like TAE (Tris acetate/EDTA) and TBE (Tris borate/EDTA). These buffers play a pivotal role in various applications, including biochemistry, protein purification, and electrophoresis. Tris HCl is a versatile and essential for maintaining the pH of biological systems and ensuring the optimal performance of biochemical, cell culture, and molecular biology techniques.