Why MOPS for RNA gels?

[D.Greeve <DAEMON>]

>In Article <371sh0$8qe at server.st.usm.edu>, gshearer at whale.st.usm.edu (Glen
>Shearer) wrote:
>>
>>Just out of curiosity....why does everyone use MOPS
>>buffer for RNA gels?  Why not use autoclaved TBE or TAE?
>>
>>Also, I recall a note in Biotechniques about leaving out
>>the formaldehyde in the gel.  The idea was that the
>>formamide/formaldehyde in the sample buffer denatured the RNA
>>and it separated fine!  Anybody ever try this?

>I think MOPS is used because it's traditional. I suppose it's a better
>buffer than Tris though. For a good reference on running gels without
>formaldehyde, see NAR 21(11): 2783-4.

MOPS is certainly a better buffer. I tried Tris once and it couldn't maintain 
the pH of the gel, so I got a very strange physical deformation of the gel and 
the Bromophenol Blue went Green....

D.Greeve
Dept. Animal Production.
C.S.I.R.O.
Western Australia.