logo
Products
Technologies
Applications
Services
Resources
Selection Guides
About
What are the most common buffers used for agarose gel electrophoresis?
Posted April 26, 2023
Chemical ReagentsAgarose gel electrophoresisBuffer Preparations and RecipesGel Electrophoresisbuffer
Answer

The most common buffers used for agarose gel electrophoresis are those that contain either Tris-acetate-EDTA (TAE) or Tris-borate-EDTA (TBE).

Acetate and borate are acids, whereas Tris is a strong base. The acid-base combination helps to keep the pH in a near-neutral range of about 8 to 8.5. The mildly basic condition protects the DNA and allows it to separate properly. 

EDTA (Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) plays an integral role in these buffers. It protects DNA from the cleaving activity of the DNAse enzyme. It also protects DNA by neutralizing the charge of water molecules.

Additional resources
Modification of gel architecture and TBE/TAE buffer composition to minimize heating during agarose gel electrophoresis Buffers and Lab Consumables TAE (1 M, pH 8.6) Preparation and Recipe

When should I use a TBE buffer for gel electrophoresis?When should I use a TAE buffer for gel electrophoresis?What does EDTA do in agarose gel electrophoresis?What is the benefit of using TN buffer (10 mM Tris, 400 mM Nacl, pH 7.5) in the RNA extraction?How does PBS clean cells?