Skip to Content
Merck
All Photos(3)

Documents

M5287

Sigma-Aldrich

MES hydrate

≥99.5% (titration), pH 2.5-4.0 (0.5 M in H2O), BioXtra

Synonym(s):

2-Morpholineethanesulfonic acid hydrate, 2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid hydrate, 4-Morpholineethanesulfonic acid

Sign Into View Organizational & Contract Pricing


About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C6H13NO4S · xH2O
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
195.24 (anhydrous basis)
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352106
eCl@ss:
32129211
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.25

product line

BioXtra

Assay

≥99.5% (titration)

form

crystalline powder

storage condition

dry at room temperature

impurities

Insoluble matter, passes filter test

ign. residue (900 °C)

≤0.05%

color

white

pH

2.5-4.0 (0.5 M in H2O)

useful pH range

5.5-6.7

pKa 

6.1

solubility

H2O: 0.5 M, clear, colorless
water: 335.3 g/L at 20 °C

anion traces

chloride (Cl-): ≤0.005%

cation traces

Al: ≤0.0005%
As: ≤0.0001%
Ba: ≤0.0005%
Bi: ≤0.0005%
Ca: ≤0.002%
Cd: ≤0.0005%
Co: ≤0.0005%
Cr: ≤0.0005%
Cu: ≤0.0005%
Fe: ≤0.0005%
K: ≤0.005%
Li: ≤0.0005%
Mg: ≤0.0005%
Mn: ≤0.0005%
Mo: ≤0.0005%
Na: ≤0.005%
Ni: ≤0.0005%
Pb: ≤0.0005%
Sr: ≤0.0005%
Zn: ≤0.0005%

absorption

≤0.020 at 280 in H2O at 0.5 M
≤0.025 at 260 in H2O at 0.5 M

application(s)

cell analysis
life science and biopharma
sample preparation

storage temp.

room temp

SMILES string

O.OS(=O)(=O)CCN1CCOCC1

InChI

1S/C6H13NO4S.H2O/c8-12(9,10)6-3-7-1-4-11-5-2-7;/h1-6H2,(H,8,9,10);1H2

InChI key

MIIIXQJBDGSIKL-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Looking for similar products? Visit Product Comparison Guide

General description

MES hydrate buffer (2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid monohydrate) is a zwitterionic biological buffer widely employed in biological, environmental, and biochemical research. With a pKa of 6.1, it is the go-to choice for buffering solutions at physiological pH. MES was developed as one of Good′s buffers in the 1960s, meeting specific criteria: a midrange pKa, maximum water solubility, minimal solubility in other solvents, minimal salt effects, stability in different temperatures, chemical and enzymatic stability, minimal absorption in the visible and UV spectral range, and ease of synthesis. MES Monohydrate′s attributes, such as low UV absorptivity, minimal reactivity, pH stability, and water solubility, position it as a Good′s buffer.

MES hydrate buffer also exhibits high water solubility and minimal metal ion binding, making it an ideal choice for various applications:

  • Cell Biology: MES hydrate buffer is often the preferred choice for buffering cell culture media due to its lower toxicity to cells compared to other buffers like Tris and phosphate.
  • Protein Purification and Extraction: Its stability across a wide pH range and minimal metal ion binding make MES hydrate buffer a valuable asset in protein purification and extraction protocols.
  • Gel Electrophoresis: MES hydrate buffer is also commonly used as a running buffer in denaturing gel electrophoresis, ensuring reliable results in protein separation and analysis.

Application

MES Hydrate has been used:

  • As a component of extraction buffer in the extraction of the enzyme BACE1
  • As a component of the reaction mixture for the measurement of 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (MTHFS) enzyme activity in fibroblasts
  • As a component of MES coupling buffer during the coupling of mAb or GST-fusion proteins to carboxylate-modified polystyrene latex (CML) beads
  • to adjust the pH of the solution for the fluorescent labeling
  • as a component of electrophoresis buffer

Features and Benefits

  • Tested to confirm low levels of heavy metal contamination, ensuring suitability for various applications
  • Effective Buffering from pH 5.5-6.7 (25 °C) with a pKa of 6.1 (25 °C)
  • Highly soluble in water
  • Minimal metal ion binding
  • Less toxic to cells than other buffers such as Tris and phosphate
  • Stable in a wide pH range
  • Low UV absorptivity
  • Minimal reactivity

Preparation Note

A buffer using MES can be prepared by titrating with NaOH to the desired pH. Alternatively, stock solutions of MES and MES sodium salt can be mixed to attain the desired pH. Standard mixing tables using stock solutions to prepare buffers of a given pH have been published. MES is not recommended for buffering at pH 7.4; other buffers should be considered.

Storage and Stability

Solutions are stable at 2-8 C for months. Sterilize by filtration through 0.2uM filters. Autoclaving is not recommended for any sulfonic acid buffer. If buffers must be nuclease-free, treat the water first, and then add the buffer after autoclaving. When MES solutions are autoclaved, they turn yellow (although pH does not change measurably). The identity of the yellow breakdown product is unknown.

Other Notes

For additional information on our range of Biochemicals, please complete this form.

Storage Class Code

13 - Non Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 1

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

Already Own This Product?

Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.

Visit the Document Library

5, 10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase deficiency causes a neurometabolic disorder associated with microcephaly, epilepsy, and cerebral hypomyelination.
Rodan, LH et al.
Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 125, 118-126 null
High-sensitivity detection and quantitative analysis of native protein-protein interactions and multiprotein complexes by flow cytometry.
Schrum AG, et al.
Science Signaling, 2007 (389), pl2-pl2 (2007)
Capillary electrophoresis microchips for separation and detection of organophosphate nerve agents
Wang J et al.
Analytical Chemistry, 73, 1804-1808 (2001)
The Swedish APP mutation alters the effect of genetically reduced BACE1 expression on the APP processing.
Rabe S, et al.
Journal of Neurochemistry, 119 (1), 231-239 (2011)
"(Un) suitability of the use of pH buffers in biological, biochemical and environmental studies and their interaction with metal ions-a review.
Ferreira, CMH, et al.
Royal Society of Chemistry Advances, 5 (39), 30989-31003 (2015)

Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.

Contact Technical Service