How long is beta-mercaptoethanol good for?
1 month
Beta-Mercaptoethanol (ß-ME) is stable for 1 month, but Buffer RLT itself is stable for at least 9 months at room temperature (15 to 25°C).
How do you store mercaptoethanol?
Store in a tightly closed container in a cool, dry area that is well ventilated, such as a vented cabinet. Do not store on shelf. Store in a secondary container by itself. Compounds incompatible with Beta Mercaptoethanol are oxidizers, acids, metals, and ignition sources.
How long does BME last in solution?
If you only need to be using it over the course of 8 days, it should be fine at 4°, and actually I’d be hesitant to store a working aliquot at -20° since you’ll be freeze/thawing it multiple times. Note that the more dilute a sample of BME is, the more quickly it degrades.
How long is BME stable?
Although 2-mercaptoethanol has a higher volatility than DTT, it is more stable: 2-mercaptoethanol’s half-life is more than 100 hours at pH 6.5 and 4 hours at pH 8.5; DTT’s half-life is 40 hours at pH 6.5 and 1.5 hours at pH 8.5.
Does DTT go bad?
If DTT is kept at room temperature it will degrade/oxidize. The main role of DTT is to keep proteins in a reduced state. If the DTT was left out for more than 72 hours it is definitely too late. Also it is better to store DTT at -20C for long term storage.
How do you store BME?
Store BME in a sealed secondary container in a well-ventilated area. The container must be tightly closed, resealed, and stored upright to avoid leakage. Avoid storing on the floor. Transport toxic liquids in secondary containment, preferably a polyethylene or other non-reactive acid/solvent bottle carrier.
How long does BME last in buffer?
For basic SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, you can add Beta mercaptoethanol to your sample buffer several weeks in advance without a problem if you store it at 4o C (I discard mine after about a month). If you choose DTT, I would discard it after a week.