MOPS (3-(''N''-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid) is a

buffer Buffer may refer to: Science * Buffer gas, an inert or nonflammable gas * Buffer solution, a solution used to prevent changes in pH * Lysis buffer, in cell biology * Metal ion buffer * Mineral redox buffer, in geology Technology and engineeri ...

introduced in the 1960s, one of the twenty

Good's buffers Good's buffers (also Good buffers) are twenty buffering agents for biochemistry, biochemical and biology, biological research selected and described by Norman Good and colleagues during 1966–1980. Most of the buffers were new zwitterionic compoun ...

. It is a structural analog to MES, and like MES, its structure contains a

morpholine Morpholine is an Organic compound, organic chemical compound having the chemical formula oxygen, O(carbon, Chydrogen, H2CH2)2nitrogen, NH. This heterocycle features both amine and ether functional groups. Because of the amine, morpholine is a bas ...

ring.

HEPES HEPES (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid) is a zwitterionic sulfonic acid buffering agent. It is one of the twenty Good's buffers. HEPES is widely used in cell culture, largely because it is better at maintaining physiological pH ...

is a similar pH buffering compound that contains a

piperazine Piperazine () is an organic compound with the formula . In term of its structure, it can be described as cyclohexane with the 1- and 4-CH2 groups replaced by NH. Piperazine exists as deliquescent solid with a saline taste. Piperazine is freely sol ...

ring. With a p''K''_a of 7.20, MOPS is an excellent buffer for many biological systems at near-neutral pH.

Applications

MOPS is frequently used as a

buffering agent A buffer solution is a solution where the pH does not change significantly on dilution or if an acid or base is added at constant temperature. Its pH changes very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it. Buffer solution ...

biology Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. It is a broad natural science that encompasses a wide range of fields and unifying principles that explain the structure, function, growth, History of life, origin, evolution, and ...

and

biochemistry Biochemistry, or biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology, a ...

. It has been tested and recommended for

polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is a technique widely used in biochemistry, forensic chemistry, genetics, molecular biology and biotechnology to separate biological macromolecules, usually proteins or nucleic acids, according to their ...

. Usage above 20 mM in mammalian

cell culture Cell culture or tissue culture is the process by which cell (biology), cells are grown under controlled conditions, generally outside of their natural environment. After cells of interest have been Cell isolation, isolated from living tissue, ...

work is not recommended. MOPS buffer solutions become discolored (yellow) over time, but reportedly slight discoloration does not significantly affect the buffering characteristics.

References

{{reflist

External links

Sigma Aldrich Buffer Calculator
- Useful tool to calculate weight, volume, or concentration from molecular weight.
Recipe for MOPS buffer on OpenWetWare
Buffer solutions Sulfonic acids 4-Morpholinyl compounds

Applications

See also

References

External links