Tris (Tris Base)

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Description

Versatile Biological Buffer Base

GoldBio Tris (Tris Base) is a molecular biology–grade buffer with ≥99% purity, trusted in laboratories worldwide for its reliability in pH control and reproducibility.

 

Tris (also known as Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, THAM, or Trometamol) is a white crystalline powder widely used in molecular biology, biochemistry, and biochemical engineering as a buffering agent.

 

Its conjugate acid has a pKa ≈ 8.07 at 25 °C, making it effective over the pH range ~ 7.0 to 9.0. Tris is indispensable in nucleic acid electrophoresis (TAE/TBE/TE), SDS-PAGE protein separation, Tris-buffered saline (TBS/TBST) immunoassays, enzyme activity assays, and CTAB-based DNA extraction for challenging samples. Its chemical stability, low endotoxin levels, and non-hazardous classification make it a safe choice for sensitive applications. 

 

 

Key Specifications & Identity

  • Synonyms / Alternate Names: Tris, THAM, Trometamol

  • CAS Number: 77-86-1 

  • PubChem / Identifier: PubChem CID 6503

  • Molecular Formula: C₄H₁₁NO₃ 

  • Molecular Weight: ~121.14 g/mol 

  • Appearance / Form: White crystalline powder 

  • Solubility: Highly soluble in water (approx. 50 g/100 mL at 25 °C) 

  • Melting / Stability: Melting point above ~175–176 °C

Functional Highlights & Advantages

  • Buffering Capacity in Physiological Range
    With a pKa near 8.1, Tris is ideal for maintaining pH in the 7–9 range, which covers many biological and enzymatic systems. 

  • Low Cost & Widely Adopted
    Tris is a cost-effective buffer base commonly used in preparing TAE, TBE, TE, and SDS-PAGE buffers, as well as buffers for protein biochemistry, nucleic acid work, and general lab reagents. 

  • Ease of Preparation & Adjustment
    Tris base can be dissolved in water and pH adjusted (e.g. with HCl) to the desired pH. 

  • Widely Compatible with Biological Systems
    It is commonly combined with salts (e.g. NaCl) or EDTA to make buffers like TBS (Tris-buffered saline) and TBST (Tris-buffered saline + Tween) used in immunoassays, blotting, and washes.

Common Applications

 

(Click each for more information)

Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis Buffers (TAE/TBE/TE)
  • Purpose: Provide stable pH and ionic strength for consistent DNA and RNA migration during gel electrophoresis.
  • How It Works: Tris, combined with acetate or borate and EDTA, buffers at ~pH 8.0 and chelates Mg²⁺ to inhibit nuclease activity, ensuring high-resolution separation.
  • Applications: Agarose and polyacrylamide gels for DNA/RNA analysis, cloning workflows, and preparative gel extraction.

Sanderson, B. A., Araki, N., Lilley, J. L., Guerrero, G., & Lewis, L. K. (2014). Modification of gel architecture and TBE/TAE buffer composition to minimize heating during agarose gel electrophoresis. Analytical Biochemistry, 454, 44–52.

SDS-PAGE (Laemmli System) for Protein Separation
  • Purpose: Resolve denatured proteins by size for downstream detection and characterization.
  • How It Works: Tris-HCl defines the pH in stacking and resolving gels, working with SDS to impart uniform negative charge and promote size-dependent migration.
  • Applications: Western blotting, proteomics, protein purity analysis, and expression verification.

Laemmli, U. K. (1970). Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature, 227(5259), 680–685.

Tris-Buffered Saline (TBS/TBST) for Immunoassays
  • Purpose: Provide a stable pH environment for antibody binding and washing in immunoassays.
  • How It Works: Tris maintains pH 7.4–8.0 in isotonic saline solutions; Tween-20 (in TBST) reduces nonspecific binding during washes.
  • Applications: Western blot washing, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining.

Hnasko, R. M., & Hnasko, T. S. (2015). The Western blot. In R. Hnasko (Ed.), ELISA: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1318, pp. 87–96). Humana Press.
Authoritative protocol source describing TBS/TBST as standard wash buffers for protein immunoassays.

General Enzymatic Assay Buffers
  • Purpose: Maintain optimal pH for in-vitro enzyme reactions in the 7–9 range.
  • How It Works: Tris’s pKa (~8.1) makes it ideal for stabilizing enzymatic activity; buffer choice can influence the activity of metal-dependent enzymes, so careful selection is essential.
  • Applications: Kinase, phosphatase, polymerase, and protease assays; biochemical activity characterization.

Forero, N., Liu, C., Sabbah, S. G., Loewen, M. C., & Yang, T. C. (2023). Assay development for metal-dependent enzymes—Influence of reaction buffers on activities and kinetic characteristics. ACS Omega, 8, 40119–40127.
Recent peer-reviewed study showing Tris’s influence on enzymatic kinetics.

CTAB-Based DNA Extraction (Plants and Polysaccharide-Rich Samples)
  • Purpose: Enable high-quality DNA isolation from tissues rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols.
  • How It Works: Tris buffers the extraction mix at ~pH 8.0, CTAB precipitates polysaccharides, and EDTA chelates divalent cations to protect DNA from degradation.
  • Applications: Plant and microbial genomics, molecular marker analysis, sequencing library preparation.

Porebski, S., Bailey, L. G., & Baum, B. R. (1997). Modification of a CTAB DNA extraction protocol for plants containing high polysaccharide and polyphenol components. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 15(1), 8–15.

 

 

Suggested Applications & Usage Notes

  • Electrophoresis & Blotting
    Tris is a core component in buffer systems for agarose gels (TAE) and polyacrylamide gels (Tris-based stacking/resolving buffers).

  • Protein / Enzymology Buffers
    Frequently used in protein purification, enzyme kinetics, and biochemical assays as a buffer base to maintain pH stability. 

  • General Laboratory Buffering
    Useful whenever a moderately alkaline buffer is required (e.g. in cell lysis, nucleic acid handling, pH control).

  • Buffer Formulations (TBS, TBST, TE, etc.)
    Mix with NaCl, EDTA, and detergents (e.g. Tween-20) to create widely used buffer systems for washing, binding, and storage.

Handling & Practical Tips

  • Be aware that Tris buffer’s pH is temperature sensitive: the pH decreases with increasing temperature (approx. 0.025 pH units per °C above 25 °C) — so buffers should ideally be adjusted at the working temperature. 

  • Use double-junction or non-silver electrode types for pH measurement, since silver-containing electrodes can be problematic in Tris solutions (Ag–Tris precipitation).

  • When preparing stock solutions (e.g. 1 M Tris), dissolve base in partial volume of water, adjust pH (e.g. with HCl), then bring to final volume. 

  • Tris can weakly interact with metal ions and may inhibit some metal-dependent enzymes, so be cautious when working with metalloenzymes.

Tris (Tris Base)

View Sizes & Pricing

Catalog Number:
T-400-500
CAS Number:
77-86-1
$63.00

For research use only. Not for food, drug, household, or cosmetic use.
Availability:
In stock
Shipping:
$14.99 Ground shipping (In continental US only.)

    Description

    Versatile Biological Buffer Base

    GoldBio Tris (Tris Base) is a molecular biology–grade buffer with ≥99% purity, trusted in laboratories worldwide for its reliability in pH control and reproducibility.

     

    Tris (also known as Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, THAM, or Trometamol) is a white crystalline powder widely used in molecular biology, biochemistry, and biochemical engineering as a buffering agent.

     

    Its conjugate acid has a pKa ≈ 8.07 at 25 °C, making it effective over the pH range ~ 7.0 to 9.0. Tris is indispensable in nucleic acid electrophoresis (TAE/TBE/TE), SDS-PAGE protein separation, Tris-buffered saline (TBS/TBST) immunoassays, enzyme activity assays, and CTAB-based DNA extraction for challenging samples. Its chemical stability, low endotoxin levels, and non-hazardous classification make it a safe choice for sensitive applications. 

     

     

    Key Specifications & Identity

    • Synonyms / Alternate Names: Tris, THAM, Trometamol

    • CAS Number: 77-86-1 

    • PubChem / Identifier: PubChem CID 6503

    • Molecular Formula: C₄H₁₁NO₃ 

    • Molecular Weight: ~121.14 g/mol 

    • Appearance / Form: White crystalline powder 

    • Solubility: Highly soluble in water (approx. 50 g/100 mL at 25 °C) 

    • Melting / Stability: Melting point above ~175–176 °C

    Functional Highlights & Advantages

    • Buffering Capacity in Physiological Range
      With a pKa near 8.1, Tris is ideal for maintaining pH in the 7–9 range, which covers many biological and enzymatic systems. 

    • Low Cost & Widely Adopted
      Tris is a cost-effective buffer base commonly used in preparing TAE, TBE, TE, and SDS-PAGE buffers, as well as buffers for protein biochemistry, nucleic acid work, and general lab reagents. 

    • Ease of Preparation & Adjustment
      Tris base can be dissolved in water and pH adjusted (e.g. with HCl) to the desired pH. 

    • Widely Compatible with Biological Systems
      It is commonly combined with salts (e.g. NaCl) or EDTA to make buffers like TBS (Tris-buffered saline) and TBST (Tris-buffered saline + Tween) used in immunoassays, blotting, and washes.

    Common Applications

     

    (Click each for more information)

    Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis Buffers (TAE/TBE/TE)
    • Purpose: Provide stable pH and ionic strength for consistent DNA and RNA migration during gel electrophoresis.
    • How It Works: Tris, combined with acetate or borate and EDTA, buffers at ~pH 8.0 and chelates Mg²⁺ to inhibit nuclease activity, ensuring high-resolution separation.
    • Applications: Agarose and polyacrylamide gels for DNA/RNA analysis, cloning workflows, and preparative gel extraction.

    Sanderson, B. A., Araki, N., Lilley, J. L., Guerrero, G., & Lewis, L. K. (2014). Modification of gel architecture and TBE/TAE buffer composition to minimize heating during agarose gel electrophoresis. Analytical Biochemistry, 454, 44–52.

    SDS-PAGE (Laemmli System) for Protein Separation
    • Purpose: Resolve denatured proteins by size for downstream detection and characterization.
    • How It Works: Tris-HCl defines the pH in stacking and resolving gels, working with SDS to impart uniform negative charge and promote size-dependent migration.
    • Applications: Western blotting, proteomics, protein purity analysis, and expression verification.

    Laemmli, U. K. (1970). Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature, 227(5259), 680–685.

    Tris-Buffered Saline (TBS/TBST) for Immunoassays
    • Purpose: Provide a stable pH environment for antibody binding and washing in immunoassays.
    • How It Works: Tris maintains pH 7.4–8.0 in isotonic saline solutions; Tween-20 (in TBST) reduces nonspecific binding during washes.
    • Applications: Western blot washing, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining.

    Hnasko, R. M., & Hnasko, T. S. (2015). The Western blot. In R. Hnasko (Ed.), ELISA: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1318, pp. 87–96). Humana Press.
    Authoritative protocol source describing TBS/TBST as standard wash buffers for protein immunoassays.

    General Enzymatic Assay Buffers
    • Purpose: Maintain optimal pH for in-vitro enzyme reactions in the 7–9 range.
    • How It Works: Tris’s pKa (~8.1) makes it ideal for stabilizing enzymatic activity; buffer choice can influence the activity of metal-dependent enzymes, so careful selection is essential.
    • Applications: Kinase, phosphatase, polymerase, and protease assays; biochemical activity characterization.

    Forero, N., Liu, C., Sabbah, S. G., Loewen, M. C., & Yang, T. C. (2023). Assay development for metal-dependent enzymes—Influence of reaction buffers on activities and kinetic characteristics. ACS Omega, 8, 40119–40127.
    Recent peer-reviewed study showing Tris’s influence on enzymatic kinetics.

    CTAB-Based DNA Extraction (Plants and Polysaccharide-Rich Samples)
    • Purpose: Enable high-quality DNA isolation from tissues rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols.
    • How It Works: Tris buffers the extraction mix at ~pH 8.0, CTAB precipitates polysaccharides, and EDTA chelates divalent cations to protect DNA from degradation.
    • Applications: Plant and microbial genomics, molecular marker analysis, sequencing library preparation.

    Porebski, S., Bailey, L. G., & Baum, B. R. (1997). Modification of a CTAB DNA extraction protocol for plants containing high polysaccharide and polyphenol components. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 15(1), 8–15.

     

     

    Suggested Applications & Usage Notes

    • Electrophoresis & Blotting
      Tris is a core component in buffer systems for agarose gels (TAE) and polyacrylamide gels (Tris-based stacking/resolving buffers).

    • Protein / Enzymology Buffers
      Frequently used in protein purification, enzyme kinetics, and biochemical assays as a buffer base to maintain pH stability. 

    • General Laboratory Buffering
      Useful whenever a moderately alkaline buffer is required (e.g. in cell lysis, nucleic acid handling, pH control).

    • Buffer Formulations (TBS, TBST, TE, etc.)
      Mix with NaCl, EDTA, and detergents (e.g. Tween-20) to create widely used buffer systems for washing, binding, and storage.

    Handling & Practical Tips

    • Be aware that Tris buffer’s pH is temperature sensitive: the pH decreases with increasing temperature (approx. 0.025 pH units per °C above 25 °C) — so buffers should ideally be adjusted at the working temperature. 

    • Use double-junction or non-silver electrode types for pH measurement, since silver-containing electrodes can be problematic in Tris solutions (Ag–Tris precipitation).

    • When preparing stock solutions (e.g. 1 M Tris), dissolve base in partial volume of water, adjust pH (e.g. with HCl), then bring to final volume. 

    • Tris can weakly interact with metal ions and may inhibit some metal-dependent enzymes, so be cautious when working with metalloenzymes.

    Product Specifications

    Catalog ID: T-400
    CAS #: 77-86-1
    Formula: C4H11NO3
    MW: 121.14 g/mol
    Grade: ULTRA PURE GRADE
    Storage/handling: Store desiccated at room temperature.
    PubChem Chemical ID: 6503

    Technical Documentation

    P Protocol
    O Other
    C Certificate of Analysis
    S Safety Data Sheet
    S

    SDS (MSDS) T-400

    Safety Data Sheet - T-400
    C

    T-400 Specification Sheet

    Specification Sheet - T-400
    P

    Antibody Binding Protocol - Protein A Agarose Beads

    Protein A agarose resin column - Antibody binding protocol for a low pressure gravity column system.
    P

    Agarose Gel Preparation Protocol

    Protocol for melting and pouring an agarose gel
    P

    Antibody Binding Protocol - Protein G Agarose Beads

    Protein G agarose resin column - Antibody binding protocol for a low pressure gravity column system.
    P

    Ellmans Test Protocol

    Quantitative Determination of Peptides by Sulfhydryl (-SH) Groups
    P

    Enzymatic Assay of L-Fucose Dehydrogenase

    Enzymatic Assay of L-Fucose Dehyrogenase
    P

    TAE Stock Solution - 50X

    50X TAE Stock Solution Buffer for gel electrophoresis.
    P

    TBE Stock Solution - 10X

    10X TBE Stock Solution Buffer for gel electrophoresis.
    P

    TTE Stock Solution - 10X

    10X Tris-TAPS-EDTA Stock Solution Buffer for gel electrophoresis
    P

    Tris Buffer Stock Solution

    Tris Buffer Stock Solution - 1M
    O

    User Guide for GoldBio Buffers

    A user guide for the background, experimental use and technical discussion of GoldBio biological buffers.
    P

    TE Buffer Stock Solution - 10X

    10X TE Buffer for storage of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA
    P

    One-Dimensional SDS-PAGE Protocol

    Protocol for the preparation of an SDS-PAGE gel and electrophoresis of protein samples.

    O

    Biological Buffer Selection Guide

    The Biological Buffer Selection Guide includes catalog number, pH range, pKa, applications, stock solution protocol availability and comments for the most common biological buffers.

    O

    Guide: Commonly used Buffers

    Guide: Commonly used Buffers contains name, pH range, applications, composition and other characteristics of buffers commonly used in the lab.

    P

    Low Melt Agarose Gel Preparation Protocol

    Protocol for the preparation of agarose gels for electrophoresis using Low Melt Agarose.

    O

    Printable Buffer pH Chart - Arranged In Order of pH

    Refer to this printable buffer-pH chart for common buffers, associated pKa and pH range. Information on this chart is displayed in vibrant colors, and makes a great print-out for your lab.
    O

    Printable Buffer Chart - Arranged by Family

    This ultimate buffer selection guide is a fantastic graphical display, showing common buffer pH ranges and their associated pKa. Buffers on this chart are also categorized by family. It's perfect to print out for your lab.

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