Overview

Acetate Buffer, pH 5.0 / Sodium Acetate, pH 5.2 - Acetate buffering is the standard simple acid-range system for pH 4.5-5.5 work. The GMExpression's Acetate Buffer line is best launched as two closely related SKUs: a 1 M pH 5.0 chromatography buffer and a 3 M pH 5.2 sodium acetate stock for nucleic-acid precipitation.

This page positions both variants together because laboratories often need one or both in RNA, DNA, and acidic protein-biochemistry workflows.

We also have

S30A Buffer · S30B Buffer · GMExpression Buffer catalogue

Use and Applications

  • RNA and DNA precipitation using sodium acetate and ethanol
  • Cation-exchange chromatography of basic proteins
  • Glycoprotein and acidic hydrolase assay buffers
  • General pH 5.0 biochemical buffering

→Buffer Indicator Navigator

Use the GMExpression Buffer Indicator Navigator to find suitable pH ranges that match this buffer system, or start from a specific buffer and search for suitable working pH ranges for the intended experiment.

Specifications

ItemSpecification
Acetate Buffer1 M, pH 5.0, 500 mL
Sodium Acetate3 M, pH 5.2, 500 mL
Sterility0.22 μm sterile-filtered

Composition - draft formulation / release specification

ComponentAmount / concentrationFunction
Sodium acetate1 M or 3 M;       CAS 6131-90-4 / 127-09-3Acetate salt component
Acetic acidq.s.;          CAS 64-19-7Acid component for pH adjustment
NaOHminor trim if requiredFinal pH adjustment
Milli-Q waterq.s. to final volumeSolvent

Instruction

1For nucleic-acid precipitation, add 0.1 volume of 3 M sodium acetate pH 5.2 to the sample, then add ethanol or isopropanol according to the protocol.
2For chromatography or assay buffers, dilute the 1 M pH 5.0 stock to the desired final concentration.
3Verify pH after adding high salt, detergent, or protein stabilisers.

Note

  • The 3 M sodium acetate variant is intentionally concentrated for precipitation workflows, not for direct assay use.

Cautions

Caution. Acetic acid is volatile and irritating; keep containers tightly capped.
Caution. High acetate concentrations can interfere with some downstream enzymatic reactions if not removed by washing or dilution.

Storage and Expiry · Safety

  • Store at room temperature or 2-8 deg C.
  • Unopened shelf life: 24 months from manufacture after QC validation.
  • Transport. Ships at ambient temperature; no cold chain required. Protect from freezing and from temperatures above 40 deg C.
  • Handling and PPE. Wear a laboratory coat, nitrile gloves, and safety glasses for routine handling. Contains acetic acid, which is volatile and irritating to eyes and the respiratory tract; handle in a well-ventilated area. Consult the Safety Data Sheet before use.

References

  1. Sambrook and Russell, Molecular Cloning, 3rd edition.
  2. Safety Data Sheet: SDS draft to be finalised before commercial release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why include two sodium acetate variants?
They serve different workflows: 1 M pH 5.0 for buffer formulation, 3 M pH 5.2 for nucleic-acid precipitation.
Q2. Can this be supplied RNase-free?
Yes. The sodium acetate precipitation variant can be prepared with RNase-free water and packaging. Quotation separately via support@gmexpression.com