Overview

SDS-PAGE Stacking Gel Buffer, 1 M Tris-HCl, pH 6.8 - Stacking Gel Buffer is the pH 6.8 Tris-HCl component of the classical Laemmli SDS-PAGE system. It creates the discontinuous pH environment needed to concentrate proteins into a sharp band before entry into the resolving gel.

The SKU is labelled for gel casting to reduce the common error of swapping stacking and resolving gel buffers.

Use and Applications

  • Hand-casting SDS-PAGE stacking gels
  • Protein electrophoresis teaching and core-facility workflows
  • SDS-PAGE Hand-Casting Suite with resolving gel buffer and Laemmli sample buffer
  • Routine Western blot sample preparation workflows

Specifications

ItemSpecification
Bottle500 mL sterile bottle
Concentration1 M Tris-HCl, pH 6.8
CompanionSDS-PAGE Resolving Gel Buffer pH 8.8
Label noteApplication-specific SDS-PAGE gel-casting instructions

Composition

ComponentAmount / concentrationFunction
Tris baseCalculated ratio for pH 6.8Base form
Tris-HClCalculated ratio for pH 6.8Acid form
MQ waterq.s. to final volumeSolvent

Instruction

1Use as the Tris component in stacking gel recipes.
2Mix with acrylamide/bis solution, SDS, water, APS, and TEMED according to the protocol.
3Overlay on the polymerised resolving gel and insert comb immediately.

Note

  • This is also the base pH for many Laemmli sample buffer formulations.

Cautions

Caution. Do not substitute resolving gel buffer for stacking gel buffer; pH mismatch changes stacking behaviour.
Caution. Acrylamide handling requires separate institutional safety controls.

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. This buffer is Tris-HCl only (SDS is supplied separately in the running and sample buffers); Tris is a mild irritant, so avoid eye contact. Consult the Safety Data Sheet before use.

References

  1. Laemmli (1970), Nature 227:680-685.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does this replace Laemmli sample buffer?
No. It is a gel-casting buffer. Laemmli sample buffer contains SDS, glycerol, tracking dye, and optional reducing agent.
Q2. Can it be used as generic Tris-HCl pH 6.8?
Yes, but it is labelled and documented for stacking gel preparation.