MOPS: Difference between revisions

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(corrected recipe)
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[[Image:800px-MOPS.png|right|200px|thumb|chemical structure of MOPS, 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid]]
[[Image:800px-MOPS.png|right|200px|thumb|chemical structure of MOPS, 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid]]


* 41.2 g 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid (MOPS); MW 209.3 g/mol
* 41.9 g MOPS; MW 209.3 g/mol
* 10.9 g Sodium Acetate, trihydrate; MW 136.1 g/mol (watch out: NaAc, anhydrous is lighter with MW = 82 g/mol)
* 2.7 g Sodium Acetate, trihydrate; MW 136.1 g/mol (watch out: NaAc, anhydrous is only 82 g/mol or 1.6g)
* 3.7 g EDTA, sodium salt; MW 292.2 g/mol
* 2.9 g EDTA, sodium salt; MW 292.2 g/mol




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==Final concentration of active compounds in 10x stock==
==Final concentration of active compounds in 10x stock==
* 400 mM MOPS (buffering)
* 200 mM MOPS (buffering)
* 100 mM NaAc
* 20 mM NaAc
* 10 mM [[EDTA]] (nuclease inhibition by Mg2+ chelation)
* 10 mM [[EDTA]] (nuclease inhibition by Mg2+ chelation)
Note: Farrell uses higher concentrations for 10x stock: 400 mM MOPS, 100 mM NaAc, 10 mM EDTA





Revision as of 09:53, 2 March 2009

The other mops

MOPS is the common name for the buffering compound in MOPS buffer. MOPS stands for 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid and with a pKa of 7.20, MOPS is an good buffer for many biological systems at almost neutral pH. HEPES is a chemically similar pH buffering compound.


Recipe for 10x MOPS buffer

chemical structure of MOPS, 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid
  • 41.9 g MOPS; MW 209.3 g/mol
  • 2.7 g Sodium Acetate, trihydrate; MW 136.1 g/mol (watch out: NaAc, anhydrous is only 82 g/mol or 1.6g)
  • 2.9 g EDTA, sodium salt; MW 292.2 g/mol


  • add 800 ml of nuclease free distilled water; mix to dissolve
  • adjust to pH 7 with NaOH (prepared in nuclease free distilled water)
  • fill to the final volume of 1000 ml


  • filter sterilise or autoclave
  • store at room temperature
  • protect from light; do not use if the solution appears yellow


Final concentration of active compounds in 10x stock

  • 200 mM MOPS (buffering)
  • 20 mM NaAc
  • 10 mM EDTA (nuclease inhibition by Mg2+ chelation)

Note: Farrell uses higher concentrations for 10x stock: 400 mM MOPS, 100 mM NaAc, 10 mM EDTA


Stability of MOPS

Contrary to common belief, MOPS is sufficiently heat-stable to be autoclaved. Solution will turn yellow but this does not interfere with its buffering capacity. See, for example, Farrell RNA methods, p201 [1]. Straw coloured buffer is but do not use darker buffer.

Some OWW protocols which use MOPS


External links