MES is one of the so-called 'Good' buffers developed for biological applications. This product is tested for trace ions. A buffer using MES free acid can be prepared by titrating the free acid with sodium hydroxide to the desired pH (pKa=±-1). Alternatively, volumes of equimolar solutions of MES free acid and MES sodium can be mixed to attain the desired pH. Standard mixing tables using stock solutions to prepare a buffer of a given pH have been published.
Application:
MES sodium salt has been used:
To achieve the required density and stretching of DNA fibers during melting of agarose plugs containing genomic DNA
To equilibrate the Balch homogenizer chamber and to prevent sample hydrolysis before sample homogenization