Tricine

Tricine is a commonly used buffer solution in biochemistry and molecular biology. It is an organic compound that is often used in the preparation of buffer solutions for gel electrophoresis. Tricine is a zwitterionic amino acid that is used in the buffer system developed by Ulrich Laemmli, which is used for the separation of proteins and small peptides.

History

Tricine was first synthesized in the 1960s by the German biochemist Ulrich Laemmli. It was developed as a buffer for the separation of proteins and small peptides in gel electrophoresis. Since then, it has been widely used in various biochemical and molecular biology experiments.

Properties

Tricine is a white crystalline powder that is soluble in water. It has a molecular weight of 179.17 g/mol and a melting point of 174-175°C. It is a zwitterionic amino acid, meaning it has both positive and negative charges. This property makes it an effective buffer in the pH range of 7.4-8.8.

Uses

Tricine is primarily used in the preparation of buffer solutions for gel electrophoresis. It is particularly useful for the separation of proteins and small peptides. Tricine buffer is also used in the Bradford protein assay, a colorimetric assay used to measure the concentration of total protein in a sample.

Preparation

Tricine buffer is prepared by dissolving tricine in water and adjusting the pH with a strong acid or base. The concentration of tricine in the buffer can be varied depending on the specific requirements of the experiment.

Safety

Tricine is generally considered safe for laboratory use. However, it can cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin or eyes. It is recommended to wear protective clothing and eye protection when handling tricine.