TE buffer
Encyclopedia
TE buffer is a commonly used buffer solution
in molecular biology
, especially in procedures involving DNA
or RNA
. "TE" is derived from its components: Tris
, a common pH buffer, and EDTA
, a molecule that chelates
cations like Mg2+. The purpose of TE buffer is to solubilize DNA or RNA, while protecting it from degradation.
TE buffer is also called as T10E1 Buffer, and read as "T ten E one buffer".
To make a 100 ml solution of T10E1 Buffer, 1 ml of 1 M tris HCL (pH 8.0) and 0.2 ml EDTA (0.5 M) and make up with double distilled water up to 100ml.
Based on nuclease
studies from the 1980's, the pH
is usually adjusted to 7.5 for RNA
and 8.0 for DNA
. The respective DNA and RNA nucleases are supposed to be less active at these pH values, but pH 8.0 can safely be used for storage of both DNA and RNA.
EDTA
further inactivates nucleases, by binding to metal ions required by these enzymes.
The best temperature for genomic DNA storage in TE Buffer is 39.2 F (4ºC).
Buffer solution
A buffer solution is an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. It has the property that the pH of the solution changes very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it. Buffer solutions are used as a...
in molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
, especially in procedures involving DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
or RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
. "TE" is derived from its components: Tris
Tris
Tris is an abbreviation of the organic compound known as trisaminomethane, with the formula 3CNH2. Tris is extensively used in biochemistry and molecular biology. In biochemistry, tris is widely used as a component of buffer solutions, such as in TAE and TBE buffer, especially for solutions of...
, a common pH buffer, and EDTA
EDTA
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, widely abbreviated as EDTA , is a polyamino carboxylic acid and a colourless, water-soluble solid. Its conjugate base is named ethylenediaminetetraacetate. It is widely used to dissolve limescale. Its usefulness arises because of its role as a hexadentate ligand...
, a molecule that chelates
Chelation
Chelation is the formation or presence of two or more separate coordinate bonds between apolydentate ligand and a single central atom....
cations like Mg2+. The purpose of TE buffer is to solubilize DNA or RNA, while protecting it from degradation.
Recipe
A typical recipe for making 10:1 TE buffer is:- 10 mM TrisTrisTris is an abbreviation of the organic compound known as trisaminomethane, with the formula 3CNH2. Tris is extensively used in biochemistry and molecular biology. In biochemistry, tris is widely used as a component of buffer solutions, such as in TAE and TBE buffer, especially for solutions of...
, bring to pH 8.0 with HClHCLHCL or HCl can stand for:* Hairy cell leukemia, an uncommon and slowly progressing B cell leukemia* Hardware compatibility list... - 1 mM EDTAEDTAEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid, widely abbreviated as EDTA , is a polyamino carboxylic acid and a colourless, water-soluble solid. Its conjugate base is named ethylenediaminetetraacetate. It is widely used to dissolve limescale. Its usefulness arises because of its role as a hexadentate ligand...
TE buffer is also called as T10E1 Buffer, and read as "T ten E one buffer".
To make a 100 ml solution of T10E1 Buffer, 1 ml of 1 M tris HCL (pH 8.0) and 0.2 ml EDTA (0.5 M) and make up with double distilled water up to 100ml.
Based on nuclease
Nuclease
A nuclease is an enzyme capable of cleaving the phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotide subunits of nucleic acids. Older publications may use terms such as "polynucleotidase" or "nucleodepolymerase"....
studies from the 1980's, the pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
is usually adjusted to 7.5 for RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
and 8.0 for DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
. The respective DNA and RNA nucleases are supposed to be less active at these pH values, but pH 8.0 can safely be used for storage of both DNA and RNA.
EDTA
EDTA
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, widely abbreviated as EDTA , is a polyamino carboxylic acid and a colourless, water-soluble solid. Its conjugate base is named ethylenediaminetetraacetate. It is widely used to dissolve limescale. Its usefulness arises because of its role as a hexadentate ligand...
further inactivates nucleases, by binding to metal ions required by these enzymes.
The best temperature for genomic DNA storage in TE Buffer is 39.2 F (4ºC).