Thermo Scientific™ Pierce™ 2-Mercaptoethanol, 10 x 1 mL

Mild Reducing Agent for Protein Disulfide Bond Cleavage and Enzyme Stabilization

Thermo Scientific™ Pierce™ 2-Mercaptoethanol (also known as β-mercaptoethanol, b-ME, or bME) is a thiol-based reducing agent used to cleave disulfide bonds in proteins and maintain enzyme activity by preventing oxidation of cysteine residues. With a concentration of 14.3 M, this high-purity reagent is supplied in a convenient 10 x 1 mL aliquot format, making it ideal for laboratories conducting protein sample preparation, enzyme stabilization, and SDS-PAGE workflows.

2-ME is commonly used at final concentrations of 5–20 mM, often in combination with EDTA, to stabilize enzymes and prevent sulfhydryl oxidation, ensuring the preservation of catalytic activity in sensitive biochemical reactions.

Key Features & Benefits

✅ Mild but Effective Reducing Agent – Cleaves protein disulfide bonds while preserving native structures when needed

✅ Protects Enzymes from Oxidation – Maintains cysteine thiol groups in a reduced state

✅ Pre-Aliquoted Format (10 × 1 mL) – Minimizes exposure and waste; improves safety and reproducibility

✅ High Concentration (14.3 M) – Offers flexible dilution and precise control over reaction conditions

✅ Research-Grade Quality – Manufactured under stringent quality standards for laboratory use

Applications

• Reduction of Protein Disulfide Bonds – Sample preparation for SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, or 2D electrophoresis
• Enzyme Stabilization – Added to buffers to prevent oxidative inactivation of thiol-sensitive enzymes
• In Vitro Protein Refolding & Activity Assays
• Buffer Additive for Molecular Biology Reactions
• Reducing Environment Simulation in Protein Folding Studies

Technical Specifications

Storage & Handling

• Store between 2°C and 25°C in tightly sealed vials
• Use in a fume hood and handle with PPE; 2-ME has a strong odor and is toxic
• Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles; store aliquots as received

Thermo Scientific™ Pierce™ 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) provides a reliable and consistent means to reduce disulfide bonds and maintain sulfhydryl functionality in enzyme systems. Supplied in pre-aliquoted 1 mL vials, it ensures ease of handling, reduces waste, and supports efficient and reproducible protein biochemistry workflows.