Tris-tricine Protocols

Tris-tricine is a white crystalline powder used in molecular biology laboratories as a buffer solution. This organic compound is soluble in water, has a low acidity level and is used in scientific procedures, such as gel electrophoresis, to buffer or balance the pH of analyzed solutions. Tris-tricine protocols include SDS-PAGE in a Tris-tricine buffer,Tris-tricine gel for electrophoresis and the separation of low molecular weight proteins.

SDS-PAGE in a Tris-tricine Buffer

• Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis with the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate is a much-used technique for small-scale separation of proteins, says G. Brent Irvine, researcher at Queen's University Belfast, in "Neuropeptide Protocols." Technicians dissolve acrylamide in water, keeping the solution at 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Later, they add Tris-tricine, hydrogen chloride, mercaptoethanol and SDS to compose the gel. Molecular biologists can used this gel in the electrophoresis apparatus, which is specially designed to separate proteins.

Tris-tricine Gel

• This protocol refers to the preparation of Tris-tricine gel for use in general electrophoresis experiments, according to the University of Washington. Technicians mix acrylamide solution, Tris-tricine, chlorine, SDS and double distilled water. They then add glycerol to separate the gel only and remove the gas created in the solution under vacuum for up to 15 minutes. They add ammonium persulfate and tetramethylethylenediamine and swirl to mix. Finally, they add water-saturated isobutyl alcohol to the gel.

Separation of Low Molecular Weight Proteins

• Tris-tricine is an important component in the separation of low molecular weight proteins, says Ian M. Rosenberg in "Protein Analysis and Purification: Benchtop Techniques." To prepare the electrophoresis Tris-tricine solution, technicians add TEMED, the dye coomassie blue, the gels acrylamide and bisacrylamide, hydrogen chloride, glycerol, and SDS. The gelification process is finished within one hour. Protein samples are incubated at 104 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, before electrophoresis analysis.