sodium borate acid for DNA electrophoresis? - It's supposed to be much faster. Have you tried it? (Jun/28/2006 )

Sodium borate acid was suggested as a superior buffer to run DNA gel electrophoresis. Here are two sources:

- http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_relea...4/02_09_04.html
- BioTechniques, Volume 36, Issue 2 , February 2004, Pages 214-216

Do you have some experience with this? Do you know a recipe for testing it?

Best, j

No, but the gels look really great! Let me know if you try it, please

I wonder what effect will there b when we try to purify DNA from gels made with sodium boric acid solution. Also the longterm effect on the gel chambers.

Both the sodium borate and the lithium borate version work fine with denaturing acrylamide gels. Resolution is identical to TBE but you can run at a higher voltage without generating as much heat.

20x Sodium Borate Buffer

Place a 2 L beaker with magnetic stirbar on magnetic stirer.
Add 40 mL of 10N NaOH.
Add 1800 ml Type I water.
Boric acid has a pKa of 9.23; dpKa/dT = -0.008/degree C.
Adjust the pH to 8.5 @ 25C with boric acid. This takes approximately 76 g for the 2 L prep.
Transfer buffer to a 2 L graduated cylinder and adjust volume to 2 L with Type I water.
Filter sterilize.

20x Lithium Borate Buffer

Place a 2 L beaker with magnetic stirbar on magnetic stirer.
Add 9.58 g of lithium hydroxide.
Add 1800 ml Type I water and stir till LiOH is dissolved.
Boric acid has a pKa of 9.23; dpKa/dT = -0.008/degree C.
Adjust the pH to 8.5 @ 25C with boric acid. This takes approximately 72 g for the 2 L prep.
Transfer buffer to a 2 L graduated cylinder and adjust volume to 2 L with Type I water.
Filter sterilize.

Very beautiful gel.

I must try this!

-Matt

tfitzwater, Thanx for the recipe.

Is there any problems when u purify DNA from the gel made with sodium borate?

I used to use that buffer. It works very well . It’s cheaper, you can re-used many times. The resolution is not as good as with TAE, but it’s good enough. I ran gels at 250 or 300 V without any problem and used it for anything (purify bands for cloning, RFLP, anything). I don’t use it any more because of the rules of the company . I highly recommend it.