General description

PIPES (1,4-Piperazinediethanesulfonic ) is a zwitterionic buffer. It is a stable buffer and is used majorly in fixation solutions. PIPES is inert towards enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. However, it generates artefacts in transmission electron microscope imaging.

Application

PIPES (1,4-Piperazinediethanesulfonic ) dipotassium salt has been used as buffer for fluorescence polarization microscopy studies of kinesin-microtubule binding. It is suitable for use as a component of PHEM buffer ([K-PIPES], HEPES, EGTA, and MgSO4) used during rinsing and blocking steps in immunofluorescence imaging of HeLa cells. It is also suitable for use as buffer for purification of tubulin.