Tricine
[CAS# 5704-04-1]

Identification

• Classification: Biochemical >> Amino acids and their derivatives >> Glycine derivatives
• Name: Tricine
• Synonyms: N-(2-Hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl)glycine; N-[Tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]glycine
• Protein Sequence: G
• Molecular Formula: C₆H₁₃NO₅
• Molecular Weight: 179.17
• CAS Registry Number: 5704-04-1
• EC Number: 227-193-6
• SMILES: C(C(=O)O)NC(CO)(CO)CO

Properties

• Solubility: 4 M (water 20 ºC)
• Melting point: 183 ºC (decomp.)

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07 Warning
• Hazard Statements: H315-H319-H335
• Precautionary Statements: P261-P305+P351+P338

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure	STOT SE	3	H335
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Skin irritation	Skin Irrit.	2	H315

Discovory and Applicatios

Tricine, also known as N-tris(hydroxymethyl)glycine, is a zwitterionic buffer discovered by Norman E. Good and colleagues in the 1960s. This discovery was part of their development of a series of buffers, known as Good buffers, that were specifically designed to meet the needs of biological and biochemical research. The development of N-tris(hydroxymethyl)glycine provides a stable buffering system over the pH range of 7.4 to 8.8, making it particularly useful for experiments that require precise control of pH within this range.

The molecular formula of N-tris(hydroxymethyl)glycine is C6H13NO5 and its molecular weight is 179.17 g/mol. It has a central glycine moiety with three hydroxymethyl groups that enhance its buffering capacity and stability. N-tris(hydroxymethyl)glycine has a pKa of 8.1 at 25°C, making it an effective buffer that maintains pH values ​​close to neutral to slightly alkaline. This stability across a wide range of temperatures and ionic conditions makes Tricine an essential tool in a variety of laboratory settings.

Tricine is widely used in electrophoresis, especially for the separation of low molecular weight peptides and proteins. In Tricine-SDS-PAGE, Tricine replaces glycine in the running buffer, improving the resolution of small proteins and peptides. This application is essential for detailed protein analysis and characterization in molecular biology.

In biochemical assays, Tricine is used to maintain stable pH conditions, which are critical for the activity and stability of enzymes and other biomolecules. Its buffering capacity ensures that assay conditions remain optimal, allowing for accurate and reliable measurements of biochemical activity.

Tricine is used in protein purification protocols to maintain stable pH conditions, which are critical for preserving protein structure and function. Its compatibility with a variety of chromatographic techniques makes it a valuable buffer in protein purification and analysis.

Tricine is used in cell culture media to buffer pH values ​​within the physiological range, ensuring that cells remain healthy and viable. Its nontoxic nature makes it suitable for a variety of cell types, maintaining consistent experimental conditions for cell-based research.

In molecular biology, tricine is used to prepare reagents and buffers for DNA and RNA electrophoresis, hybridization, and other techniques. Its ability to maintain a stable pH under varying conditions is essential for the accuracy and reproducibility of molecular biology experiments.

The high buffering capacity makes tricine effective in maintaining a stable pH level, ensuring consistent experimental results. The low ionic strength makes tricine compatible with a variety of biological systems and techniques without interfering with the processes being studied. Tricine is generally nontoxic to cells and does not interfere with biochemical reactions, making it suitable for use in sensitive biological applications.

References

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2008. Expression and purification the antimicrobial peptide CM4 in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology Letters, 31(4).
DOI: 10.1007/s10529-008-9893-0

2007. Impact of Trivalent Arsenicals on Selenoprotein Synthesis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(3).
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9440