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| Name | Urea for molecular biology |
| Brand | Thermo Fisher Scientific |
| Quantity | 500g |
| Purity | ≥99.5% |
| Form | Powder |
| Grade | Molecular biology |
| Storage Condition | Store at room temperature |
| Solubility | Soluble in water |
| Melting Point | 132-135°C |
| Boiling Point | Decomposes |
| Cas Number | 57-13-6 |
| Molecular Weight | 60.06 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Usage | Commonly used in denaturing nucleic acids and as a protein denaturant |
| Shelf Life | 2 years |
| Manufacturing Location | United States |
FAQ
What is urea and how is it used in molecular biology?
Urea is a chemical compound that is commonly used in molecular biology for various applications. It is a versatile reagent that can be used for protein denaturation, nucleic acid purification, and as a component of DNA and protein electrophoresis buffers.
What are the benefits of using urea in molecular biology experiments?
Urea is a chaotropic agent, which means that it disrupts the structure of proteins and nucleic acids by breaking hydrogen bonds. This property makes it an essential tool in many molecular biology experiments, such as in denaturing proteins for SDS-PAGE analysis or in facilitating the purification of RNA or DNA.
How is urea used in protein denaturation?
Urea is commonly used to denature proteins by disrupting the hydrogen bonds that hold the protein structure together. By treating a protein sample with urea, the protein can unfold and lose its native conformation, which is useful for analyzing protein size, charge, and structure.
Can urea be used for nucleic acid purification?
Yes, urea can be used in nucleic acid purification protocols to solubilize nucleic acids and remove contaminants. Urea can disrupt the hydrogen bonds in double-stranded DNA or RNA, allowing for the separation of the nucleic acids from other cellular components.
How does urea contribute to the resolution of DNA fragments in electrophoresis?
In DNA electrophoresis, urea is often included in the gel and running buffer to denature double-stranded DNA into single strands. This denaturation process allows for the resolution of DNA fragments based on size during electrophoresis. Urea helps to separate the DNA strands and prevents reannealing, ensuring accurate analysis of DNA fragments.
Urea is a chemical compound that is commonly used in molecular biology for various applications. It is a versatile reagent that can be used for protein denaturation, nucleic acid purification, and as a component of DNA and protein electrophoresis buffers.
What are the benefits of using urea in molecular biology experiments?
Urea is a chaotropic agent, which means that it disrupts the structure of proteins and nucleic acids by breaking hydrogen bonds. This property makes it an essential tool in many molecular biology experiments, such as in denaturing proteins for SDS-PAGE analysis or in facilitating the purification of RNA or DNA.
How is urea used in protein denaturation?
Urea is commonly used to denature proteins by disrupting the hydrogen bonds that hold the protein structure together. By treating a protein sample with urea, the protein can unfold and lose its native conformation, which is useful for analyzing protein size, charge, and structure.
Can urea be used for nucleic acid purification?
Yes, urea can be used in nucleic acid purification protocols to solubilize nucleic acids and remove contaminants. Urea can disrupt the hydrogen bonds in double-stranded DNA or RNA, allowing for the separation of the nucleic acids from other cellular components.
How does urea contribute to the resolution of DNA fragments in electrophoresis?
In DNA electrophoresis, urea is often included in the gel and running buffer to denature double-stranded DNA into single strands. This denaturation process allows for the resolution of DNA fragments based on size during electrophoresis. Urea helps to separate the DNA strands and prevents reannealing, ensuring accurate analysis of DNA fragments.
