09/12/2025
What is Tris (Tris Base)
Tris (tris base) is an organic compound primarily used in molecular biology to make buffer solutions or act as a basic buffer. Commonly used buffer recipes using tris include:
CTAB DNA extraction buffer
TAE buffer
TBE buffer
TE buffer
Tris buffer stock solution
Tris glycine buffer
Aside from common recipes, researchers use tris to buffer pH changes in solution or as a buffer in more specialized protocols (Harvey, nd.).
Additional protocols calling for tris (tris base) include:
Ellman’s Test Protocol
Enzymatic Assay of ι-Fucose Dehydrogenase
One-Dimensional SDS-PAGE Protocol
The binding buffer component in the Antibody Binding Protocol Utilizing Protein A Agarose Beads
The binding buffer component in the Antibody Binding Protocol Utilizing Protein G Agarose Beads.
What is Tris HCl
Tris HCL is a buffering agent (acidic buffer) commonly used by molecular biologists to adjust the pH of a solution or stabilize the pH. Commercially available Tris HCl is Tris with HCl added. It can be in used in common buffer recipes such as:
CTAB DNA extraction buffer
Leammli buffer for SDS-PAGE
TAE buffer
TBE buffer
TE buffer
Tris HCl buffer solution
Determining whether to use tris HCl or tris base for these commonly used recipes depends on the protocol you’re working with. When you need to adjust the pH of your solution, you can use the conjugate acidic or basic component (Harvey, n.d.).
For example, if using a protocol calling for tris HCl, you can adjust the pH using tris base.
Essentially, rather than using HCl or NaOH to adjust pH, using tris or tris HCl simplifies the process of making a tris buffer solution.
Other protocols involving tris HCl include
DNase Inactivation in RNase A Solution Protocol
The loading buffer for the IPTG Induction and Extraction of Proteins
Radio Immunoprecipitation Assay (RIPA) Cell Lysate Preparation
The TE Buffer component in performing Electrotransformation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens
