1,3-bis(tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino)propane

Description

1,3-Bis(tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino)propane, also known as **Bis-Tris**, is a **zwitterionic buffer** commonly used in **biochemical research**.

Here's a breakdown of its characteristics and importance:

**Key Features:**

* **Zwitterionic Nature:** Bis-Tris carries both a positive and negative charge at physiological pH, contributing to its buffering capacity.
* **Good Buffering Range:** It has a pKa of 6.5, making it effective in buffering solutions within the range of pH 5.5 to 7.5, which is relevant for many biological processes.
* **High Solubility:** It is highly soluble in water, making it easy to prepare solutions.
* **Non-toxic:** Bis-Tris is generally considered non-toxic, allowing for safe use in biological experiments.
* **Minimal Interference:** It does not significantly interfere with most biological reactions or assays.

**Importance in Research:**

Bis-Tris is widely used in various research fields due to its beneficial properties:

* **Protein Crystallography:** Its buffering capacity and compatibility with various crystallization conditions make it suitable for crystallizing proteins.
* **Electrophoresis:** It is frequently employed as a buffer in electrophoresis techniques, such as SDS-PAGE, due to its good conductivity and buffering range.
* **Enzyme Assays:** Bis-Tris is often chosen as a buffer in enzyme activity assays, as it maintains a stable pH environment.
* **Cell Culture:** It is used in some cell culture applications, providing a controlled pH environment for cell growth.
* **Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:** In general, its buffering capacity and compatibility with biological systems make it useful for various biochemical and molecular biology research.

**Other Applications:**

Besides research, Bis-Tris also finds applications in:

* **Cosmetic Formulations:** Its buffering and moisturizing properties make it suitable for skincare products.
* **Pharmaceutical Preparations:** It can act as a buffer in pharmaceutical solutions.

**Conclusion:**

1,3-Bis(tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino)propane (Bis-Tris) is a versatile zwitterionic buffer with a wide range of applications in research, particularly in biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology. Its buffering capacity, solubility, non-toxicity, and minimal interference make it a valuable tool for maintaining stable pH conditions in various experimental settings.

bis-tris propane : A water-soluble buffer substance used for the preparation of the biochemical and biological buffer solutions; pKa = 6.8 at 20 degreeC. [Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]