TBE Buffer; Tris-borate-EDTA is the most commonly used buffer for DNA and RNA gel electrophoresis and works as a pH regulator and chelator, used in nucleic acid gel electrophoresis, supporting a pH range between 8.1 and 8.5. The Buffer combines aqueous tris base, boric acid, and EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid), making it efficient as a running buffer of agarose gels. It 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. Since borate in TBE buffer is a strong inhibitor for many enzymes and TAE (Tris Acetate-EDTA) Buffer is recommended for enzymatic applications of the DNA sample.
TBE Buffer [25X] contains:
2.225 M Tris, 2.225 M Boric acid, and 0.05 M EDTA, pH8.3± 0.20
Filtered Sterilized with 0.22 µm Filter
Applications:
• Electrophoresis of nucleic acids in agarose and polyacrylamide gels
• Used both as a running buffer and as a gel preparation buffer
• Recommended for electrophoresis of RNA and DNA fragments smaller than 1500 bp
Note:
Double-stranded linear nucleic acid molecules migrate about 10% slower in TBE buffer than in TAE buffer