TAE buffer

TAE buffer is a <a href="/facts/Buffer_solution/zrLz9eaa">buffer solution</a> containing a mixture of <a href="/facts/Tris_base/m4sonDo5">Tris base</a>, <a href="/facts/Acetic_acid/uyBKA2Pd">acetic acid</a> and <a href="/facts/EDTA/XvHgKQyD">EDTA</a>. 
In molecular biology, it is used in agarose <a href="/facts/Electrophoresis/B0aLKHTt">electrophoresis</a> typically for the separation of <a href="/facts/Nucleic_acids/2tTgcI0v">nucleic acids</a> such as <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a> and <a href="/facts/RNA/HxPeNfNj">RNA</a>. It is made up of <a href="/facts/Tris-acetate/m4sonDo5">Tris-acetate</a> buffer, usually at pH 8.3, and <a href="/facts/EDTA/XvHgKQyD">EDTA</a>, which sequesters divalent cations. TAE has a lower buffer capacity than <a href="/facts/TBE_buffer/RmYhCdGd">TBE</a> and can easily become exhausted, but linear, double stranded DNA runs faster in TAE.
According to studies by Brody and Kern, sodium boric acid is a superior and cheaper conductive media for most DNA <a href="/facts/Gel_electrophoresis/9J3GrsFk">gel electrophoresis</a> applications.

TAE buffer open-in-new

TAE buffer