Description
General description
MES hydrate buffer (2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid monohydrate) is a zwitterionic biological buffer widely employed in biological, environmental, and biochemical research. With a pKa of 6.1, it is the go-to choice for buffering solutions at physiological pH. MES was developed as one of Good′s buffers in the 1960s, meeting specific criteria: a midrange pKa, maximum water solubility, minimal solubility in other solvents, minimal salt effects, stability in different temperatures, chemical and enzymatic stability, minimal absorption in the visible and UV spectral range, and ease of synthesis. MES Monohydrate′s attributes, such as low UV absorptivity, minimal reactivity, pH stability, and water solubility, position it as a Good′s buffer.
MES hydrate buffer also exhibits high water solubility and minimal metal ion binding, making it an ideal choice for various applications:
Cell Biology: MES hydrate buffer is often the preferred choice for buffering cell culture media due to its lower toxicity to cells compared to other buffers like Tris and phosphate.
Protein Purification and Extraction: Its stability across a wide pH range and minimal metal ion binding make MES hydrate buffer a valuable asset in protein purification and extraction protocols.
Gel Electrophoresis: MES hydrate buffer is also commonly used as a running buffer in denaturing gel electrophoresis, ensuring reliable results in protein separation and analysis.
Application
MES Hydrate has been used:
As a component of extraction buffer in the extraction of the enzyme BACE1
As a component of the reaction mixture for the measurement of 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (MTHFS) enzyme activity in fibroblasts
As a component of MES coupling buffer during the coupling of mAb or GST-fusion proteins to carboxylate-modified polystyrene latex (CML) beads
to adjust the pH of the solution for the fluorescent labeling
as a component of electrophoresis buffer
Features and Benefits
Tested to confirm low levels of heavy metal contamination, ensuring suitability for various applications
Effective Buffering from pH 5.5-6.7 (25 °C) with a pKa of 6.1 (25 °C)
Highly soluble in water
Minimal metal ion binding
Less toxic to cells than other buffers such as Tris and phosphate
Stable in a wide pH range
Low UV absorptivity
Minimal reactivity
Preparation Note
A buffer using MES can be prepared by titrating with NaOH to the desired pH. Alternatively, stock solutions of MES and MES sodium salt can be mixed to attain the desired pH. Standard mixing tables using stock solutions to prepare buffers of a given pH have been published. MES is not recommended for buffering at pH 7.4; other buffers should be considered.
Solutions are stable at 2-8 C for months. Sterilize by filtration through 0.2uM filters. Autoclaving is not recommended for any sulfonic acid buffer. If buffers must be nuclease-free, treat the water first, and then add the buffer after autoclaving. When MES solutions are autoclaved, they turn yellow (although pH does not change measurably). The identity of the yellow breakdown product is unknown.
Other Notes
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