UreaGel Buffer: The Foundation for High-Resolution Electrophoretic Separation
UreaGel Buffer (EC-835) is the specialized buffering component of the modular UreaGel system, essential for maintaining the precise ionic environment required for denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Traditional sequencing and fragment analysis require a delicate balance of buffering capacity and denaturing strength. UreaGel Buffer provides a concentrated 10X TBE (Tris-Borate-EDTA) solution combined with 7.5M urea, ensuring that the critical denaturing conditions are maintained even at the buffering stage of gel preparation.
The formulation of UreaGel Buffer is specifically engineered to integrate seamlessly with UreaGel Concentrate and UreaGel Diluent. In most denaturing PAGE protocols, the addition of a standard 10X buffer can dilute the urea concentration, leading to inconsistent denaturation and “smiling” bands. This product avoids this pitfall by matching the urea concentration of the other components. Deionised and filtered to the highest laboratory standards, it ensures optimal conductivity and crystal-clear results for sensitive applications such as DNA sequencing and RNA structural analysis.
Key Benefits:
- Consistent Denaturation: Pre-mixed 7.5M Urea. Maintains a uniform denaturing environment by ensuring the urea concentration never fluctuates, regardless of buffer addition.
- Optimised Ionic Strength: Concentrated 10X TBE. Provides the necessary buffering capacity for long-run electrophoresis without the risk of buffer depletion.
- Eliminates Preparation Error: Stabilised liquid format. Removes the need for manual mixing of TBE and Urea, reducing the potential for ionic imbalances and hazardous dust exposure.
- Nuclease-Free Assurance: Certified for sensitivity. Strictly tested for RNase and DNase contamination, ensuring the protection of critical genetic samples during long electrophoresis runs.
- Modular Efficiency: System-wide compatibility. Specifically designed to complete the UreaGel system, allowing for the rapid preparation of gels ranging from 4% to 20% acrylamide.
Technical Insights
Integrating the UreaGel System
To prepare a functional denaturing gel, UreaGel Buffer is added as exactly 1/10th of the final gel volume. This ensures the final matrix contains a standard 1X TBE concentration. Because the buffer itself contains 7.5M urea, the total denaturing strength of the gel remains perfectly locked at 7.5M, providing the most stable and reproducible environment possible for nucleic acid separation.
Specifications
- Catalogue Number: EC-835
- Buffering Agent: 10X TBE (Tris-Borate-EDTA)
- Denaturant: 7.5M Urea
- Physical State: Clear, colourless liquid
- Purity: Deionised and 0.2 micron filtered
- Certification: Certified Nuclease-Free (RNase/DNase)
- Storage: Room Temperature (18-25°C), protected from light
- Shelf Life: 12 months from date of manufacture
- Required for use with: UreaGel Concentrates (EC-828/EC-830) and UreaGel Diluent (EC-840)