MOPS Sodium Salt: An Analysis of Its Uses and Recommendations in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

MOPS sodium salt, a versatile biological buffer, plays a crucial role in biochemical and molecular biology research. As a chemical that stabilizes pH levels by neutralizing acids and bases, it ensures minimal fluctuations in solution pH even after significant additions of acidic or alkaline substances.

Versatile Applications

MOPS sodium salt (CAS 71119-22-7), chemically known as 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonate, appears as a white crystalline powder at room temperature. It boasts excellent solubility in water, making it highly suitable for various laboratory applications. With an optimal working pH range of 6.5 to 7.9, this buffer is extensively utilized in biochemistry and molecular biology studies, particularly in protein extraction, purification processes, and RNA isolation through electrophoresis.

In industrial settings, most of our supplies go into producing culture media for bacterial and yeast growth, which is especially important in food microbiology. Its reliability and effectiveness make it indispensable in these fields.

Important Considerations for Specific Uses

When using MOPS sodium salt, certain factors must be taken into account:

• Concentrations exceeding 20 mM might hinder the growth of eukaryotic cells, necessitating careful adjustments depending on your experimental setup.
• It has been noted that MOPS can interact with metals, nucleic acids, and lipids, potentially influencing certain types of experiments. Therefore, researchers should consider these interactions when designing their protocols.
• Additionally, under high-temperature conditions like autoclaving, MOPS may degrade slightly when present alongside glucose, requiring consideration during preparation stages.

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Key References

Taha, M., Gupta, B. S., Khoiroh, I., & Lee, M. J. (2011). Interactions of Biological Buffers with Macromolecules: The Ubiquitous "Smart" Polymer PNIPAM and the Biological Buffers MES, MOPS, and MOPSO. Macromolecules, 44(21), 8575-8589.

Carson, S. D., Hafenstein, S., & Lee, H. (2017). MOPS and coxsackievirus B3 stability. Virology, 501, 183-187.